Howard Parrish, was a United States Army officer who saw service during World War I and World War II. During World War II, he commanded the Sixth Port Headquarters, Transportation Corps.[1]
Howard Parrish | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1891 |
| Died | 1965 (aged 73–74) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Transportation Corps, Delta Base Section, 6th Port Headquarters |
| Commands | 6th Port Headquarters |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | |
As Commander of the 6th Port, Col. Howard Parrish arrived at Casablanca on 19 November 1942 with the first troops, the 382nd and the 384th Battalions. He was in command until mid-January 1943, still remaining with the 6th Port and was renamed Commander in 1945.[2][3][4]
Early life
editHoward Parrish was born in 1891, the son of Jesse Absolom Parrish.and his wife. He had two brothers, Roscoe T. Parrish, a postal worker who served in United States Navy, and Aubern Parrish. The family was raised in Valdosta, Georgia.[5][6]
World War I
editin 1918, with the rank of Lieutenant Parrish arrived in France with his regiments.[7]
At the conclusion of World War I, Parrish held the rank of captain.[8] For his service Parrish received a Silver Star and from being wounded in the line of duty, he received a Purple Heart.[9][5]
Career 1918-1940
editIn 1918, Parrish was assistant cashier of the Valdosta Bank & Trust Co.[7] in 1919, he relocated to work at a bank in Atlanta.[10] He was the vice president of the Atlanta Commercial Bank for 10 years, and continued as manager of the Marietta Street branch.[11]
World War II, 6th Port Headquarters
editIn 1940, Col Howard Parrish was called back into service for the United States Army. He was stationed at Jacksonville, Florida and Fort Hamilton.[8] With his wife and son, Howard Parrish, Jr., he moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he was on active duty with headquarters of Second Military Area.[12] He was then appointed as the commander of the 6th Port Headquarters, bringing the first large contingent of service troops to Casablanca. They landed on 19 November 1942. While the two port battalions, 382nd and 384th, did not have experience or training working on a water front, within a short time they began working. The 6th Port operated directly under Col. Walter J. Muller, General Patton's G-4 of the Western Task Force. Officers of General Patton's staff issued direct orders to 6th Port officers, which Col. Parrish considered it to not be in the general order of command, which created some friction between Muller and Parrish. On December 2, 1942, Muller put Colonel Tank in charge of port operations with Parrish remaining until January 1943. Col. Parrish questioned and protested this order, and appealed it to the higher command, the Chief of Transportation.[3] While the protest did not result in any changed in his favor, in December 1945, Parrish was renamed commander of the 6th Port.[13][14][15][16]
In 1943, Parrish received the Legion of Merit "for exceptional meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding service" while serving in North Africa.[8]
Personal
editColonel Parrish had one son, Howard Parrish Jr., who attended George Tech.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Roll of Honor". Stars and Stripes. 31 July 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 15 Aug 2022.
- ^ Bykofsky, Joseph (1957). The United States Army in WWII. Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army. p. 154. ISBN 9780758173713.
- ^ a b "US Army TS Transportation 3: Chapter 4: North Africa". tothosewhoserved.org. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
- ^ United States; Army; Transportation Corps; 6th Port (1945). Men on the job. Dijon, France: Berthier. OCLC 5856635.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Nation's Roll of Honor, Southern Heroes Who Have Given Their All For Old Glory". The Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal. 31 Dec 1918. Retrieved 22 Aug 2022.
- ^ "Roscoe T. Parrish, Postal Worker, Dies". The Atlanta Constitution. 13 May 1941. p. 22. Retrieved 29 Aug 2022.
- ^ a b "Lieut. Howard Parrish has arrived safely in France with his regiment". The Macon News. 4 Jun 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 29 Aug 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Parrish Wins Merit Medal In North Africa". The Atlanta Constitution. 8 Aug 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 29 Aug 2022.
- ^ "Editor & Publisher". Editor & Publisher. 76 (27–39): 28. 1943 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Howard Parrish Goes With Atlanta Bank". The Macon News. 17 Aug 1919. p. 18. Retrieved 29 Aug 2022.
- ^ "Atlanta's Largest and Oldest Bank The Atlanta and Lowry National Bank announces the purchase of the ATLANTA COMMERCIAL BANK". The Atlanta Constitution. 5 Oct 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 29 Aug 2022.
- ^ "Personals". The Atlanta Constitution. 3 Nov 1940. p. 29. Retrieved 29 Aug 2022.
- ^ "Parish Takes Over Marseille Duties". Stars and Stripes. 2 Dec 1945. Retrieved 15 Aug 2022.
- ^ "French Get Back 2 Marseille Piers". Paris Stars And Stripes. 9 Jan 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 15 Aug 2022.
- ^ "Port Track Finals List 125 Entries, Band Will Play". Southern France Stars and Stripes. 25 May 1945. p. 14. Retrieved 15 Aug 2022.
- ^ "DBS, Staging Area Carry On". Southern France Stars and Stripes. 15 Aug 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 12 Aug 2022.