b. 16/07/1918 Knox City, Missouri. d. 24/01/1945 Binalonan, Luzon, Philippines.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 18-24/01/1945 Binalonan, Luzon, Philippines.
Laverne Parrish MOH
Parrish joined the Army from Ronan, Montana in March 1941, and by January 18, 1945, was serving as a technician fourth grade in the Medical Detachment of the 161st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On that day, at Binalonan on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, he exposed himself to enemy fire in order to aid two wounded soldiers. Six days later, on January 24, near San Manuel, he again braved hostile fire to tend to the wounded, carrying five men to safety and treating dozens more before being mortally wounded himself. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on June 25, 1945, when his family received it from President Harry S Truman at The White House.
MOH CITATION:
He was medical aidman with Company C during the fighting in Binalonan, Luzon, Philippine Islands. On the 18th, he observed two wounded men under enemy fire and immediately went to their rescue. After moving one to cover, he crossed 25 yards of open ground to administer aid to the second. In the early hours of the 24th, his company, crossing an open field near San Manuel, encountered intense enemy fire and was ordered to withdraw to the cover of a ditch. While treating casualties, Technician Parrish observed two wounded still in the field. Without hesitation he left the ditch, crawled forward under enemy fire, and in two successive trips brought both men to safety. He next administered aid to 12 casualties in the same field, crossing and recrossing the open area raked by hostile fire. Making successive trips, he then brought three wounded to cover. After treating nearly all of the 37 casualties suffered by his company, he was mortally wounded by mortar fire, and shortly after was killed. The indomitable spirit, intrepidity, and gallantry of Technician Parrish saved many lives at the cost of his own.
BURIAL LOCATION: MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY, RONAN, MONTANA.
SECTION 7, BLOCK 7, GRAVE 4.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: MONTANA MILITARY MUSEUM, FORT HARRISON, MONTANA.
