Horace Charles Parks

Enlisted January 1941; appointed Private First Class and officer candidate. Trained with Second Candidates’ Class at MCB Quantico; commissioned second lieutenant on 29 May 1941, and completed training with Fifth Reserve Officers’ Class in September 1941. Assigned to the 16th Provisional Marine Company, Quantico; transferred to 19th Provisional Marine Company and departed for duty in Recife, Brazil. Overseas through November 1942; advanced in rank to captain.

On 4 December 1942, joined Headquarters Company, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) at Camp Lejeune as Bn-3 (operations officer). Transferred to Charlie Company on 15 March 1943 as commanding officer.

Outfit: C/1/24th Marines
Rank: Captain
MOS: 2900 (Company commander)
Important Events:
Awarded Silver Star Medal for actions during the battle:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Horace C. Parks (MCSN: 0-7712), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces during the invasion of Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll on 1 and 2 February 1944. Constantly at the head of his troops and under relentless enemy fire, Captain Parks completely disregarded his own personal safety to repeatedly reorganize his own and neighboring units and press home the attack. When his battalion commander became a casualty, he took charge of the final assault clearing the objective of all hostile resistance. His initiative, courageous leadership and heroic devotion to duty were an inspiration to all with whom he served and reflects the highest credit upon Captain Parks and the United States Naval Service.

Campaign Narrative

Outfit: C/1/24th Marines
Rank: Captain
MOS: 2900 (Company commander)
Important Events: 
July 4, 1944 – sick with dengue fever/dysentery; evacuated to field hospital
July 12, 1944 – returned to duty.

Campaign Narrative

Outfit: C/1/24th Marines
Rank: Captain
MOS: 2900 (Company commander)
Important Events: 
July 30, 1944 – slightly wounded in action (cause and circumstances unknown); not evacuated

Campaign Narrative

Appointed battalion executive officer on 6 August 1944; promoted to Major on 15 August.

Outfit: HQ/1/24th Marines
Rank: Major
MOS: Battalion executive officer
Important Events: 
Appointed acting battalion commander on 19 March 1945.

Campaign Narrative

Transferred to Headquarters, Department of the Pacific on 29 October 1945. To Marine Detachment, Naval Disciplinary Barracks, Terminal Island, as executive officer through summer 1946; transferred to Headquarters Company, First Marines, and sent overseas to Tsientsin, China, for occupation duty. With Headquarters and Service Battalion, FMF Western Pacific, from mid-1947 to mid-1949, then to MCB Quantico to attend Amphibious Warfare School.

Served with Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico from January 1950 to early 1953; at Headquarters, USMC until mid-1955. Joined First Battalion, 5th Marines in October 1955; served with First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton through October 1958.

Further service details unknown. Retired on 30 April 1967, with rank of colonel.