George Archer Parker

Submitted by: George N Parker {Grandson}

George Archer Parker was born around 17 April 1886. George Parker served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1914 and the service was completed in 1920.

Story of Service

 

George was the youngest son of Peter and Martha Parker. He enlisted in the Army Coast Artillery at Norfolk, Virginia on 11 Feb 1914. On 24 April 1917 he sailed for France with the 8th Provisional Coast Artillery Corps as a Corporal, arriving in Le Harve on 27 Sep 1917. He was stationed at Camp de Mailly and was rated as a gunner 1st class on 7 April 1918.

He participated in the following battles: Montdidier-Noyon, St. Michiel, Verdun, and Meuse-Argonne. He was promoted to Sergeant on 25 August 1918. On the day of Armistice, 11 Nov 1918, he was at Meurthe-et-Moselle.

He returned to the states on 11 March 1919, arriving in Hampton, Virginia on the S.S. Nansemond. The 53rd was sent to Camp Eustis, Virginia for where the men were demobilized. George married Esther Lee Meador on 9 Jan 1920 in Amelia County. They returned to Camp Eustis but Esther was not fond of the military lifestyle. George received a honorable discharge on 4 Jun 1920.

He died on18 October 1943 and is buried In Hampton National Cemetery. He died three years before I was born, so I never knew him personally, but my father and some of George's neighbors told me that he never talked about the war. I pieced together his military service from the National Personnel Records Center and National Archives records.