Background
Parker, John Henry was born on September 19, 1866 in near Tipton, Missouri, United States. Son of Thomas H. and Nancy (Maxey) Parker.
Parker, John Henry was born on September 19, 1866 in near Tipton, Missouri, United States. Son of Thomas H. and Nancy (Maxey) Parker.
Graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1892. Admitted to Missouri bar, 1896.
Second Lieutenant 13th Infantry, United States Army, 1892. Promoted through grades to colonel, July 1, 1920. Retired February 28, 1924.
Promoted to brigadier general (retired), 1941.
Commanded Gatling Gun Battery, Santiago, Cuba, 1898. Honorary member Roosevelt’s Rough Riders’ Association, 1898.
In Philippines, 1899-1901, and was assistant to chief judge advocate. Devised in 1903, and organized at Fort Leavenworth Kansas, the first Model Machine Gun Detachment, United States Army, made permanent by General Order 16, War Department, January 22, 1904.
Adviser to governor of Matanzas Province, Cuba, during second Cuban intervention, and in charge of municipal improvements of province, 1908 on special duty organizing first Model of Unit of Machine Guns (a company) for duty with a regiment of infantry, and writing necessary texts for future development of machine gun service for infantry.
Judge advocate, punitive expedition to Mexico, 1916. Went to France as machine gun expert on General Pershing’s Staff, May 1917. Member general staff commission on organization American Expeditionary Force.
Organized 1st Division and 1st Corps automatic weapons schools at Gondrecourt, army automatic weapons schools at Langres.
Colonel 102d Infantry (Charter Oak Regiment) at Chavignon, at Chemin des Dames, at Seicheprey, at Bois de Jury, and at Château-Thierry. Colonel 362d Infantry (Pine Tree Regiment) at Bois de Cheppy, at Epinonville, at Gesnes.
Organized and commanded American garrison in Paris, January-June 1919. Put over vocational training with aid of Red Cross, Young Men's Christian Association, Knights of Columbus., and Salvation Army, for the first time in American Army.
Thrice wounded in France.
Gold medallist, Military Service Institution, 1911. Awarded Distinguished Service Meda Citations in orders of 26th (Yankee) Division for “gallantry in action” in 12 combats.
Croix de Guerre with palm.
Officer Legion of Honor. Distinguished Service Cross with two oak leaves.
Third oak leaf awarded, 1923. Commandeur Ordre de l’Étoile Noire.
Recommended for brigadier general for services in battle.
Author: Gatlings at Santiago, 1898. Tactical Uses and Organization of Machine Guns in the Field, 1898. Trained Citizen Soldiery, 1915.
Also author of slogan “The Army Trains Young Men for Peace,” 1920.
Judge advocate Department of Committee, Disabled Veterans of World War, 1936-1937. Home: Garde Hotel, New Haven, Connecticut
Member Roosevelt’s Rough Riders’ Association, 1898. Member general staff commission on organization American Expeditionary Force.
Married Ida Burr, September 22, 1892. Married second, Bertha East. (Blair) Bortell, July 13, 1935. Children: Mistress Naidene Calvert, Henry Burr.