Ninety-six-year-old Howard Jefferson Parker, a World War II veteran who joined the Navy a day before his 18th birthday, earned a Combat Action Ribbon presented by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker in late October.

Parker was born in Quincy, Massachusetts on January 22, 1926 and was raised there after. As a young boy, he had no idea he’d grow up to serve, but when he turned 18 in 1944, he and a few other boys his age enlisted in the Navy. “I went to the Boston Navy when I was 18, and after my six weeks of training I went to Camp Sheldon in Virginia and was training as a gunner,”said Parker.

After training and education, Parker was assigned to the South Africa Victory vessel, a dry cargo ship carrying ammunition and food that was headed to the Pacific and South Sea Islands. Parker explained that Japan had control over the South Pacific Islands at the time, so it was his ship’s job to take over the islands from them. Of these occurrences was the Battle of Guam, which his ship was present for.

“I went to Guam with my ship and at that time Guam was taken over by the Japanese and [they were] firing at my ship and many others at that time. Eventually Guam was taken over by armed forces and then our ship and many others went to other islands nearby,” said Parker.

During this invasion, a two-person Japanese kamikaze submarine torpedo sunk one of the ships in Parker’s fleet, which happened to be a U.S. tanker.

After the war ended, Parker attended Boston University, where he’d earn his bachelors and later his Master’s of Education. Around this time he began teaching grades four and five in Massachusetts and then Briarcliff, New York for a number of years. He also got married to his late wife, Joyce H. Parker during this time.

When asked about his teaching experience after serving in the navy, Parker mentioned he felt no difference besides the fact there weren’t many male teachers at the time. “Teachers had no idea of my background. It wasn’t a secret, it was something that I never advertised.”

After teaching, he moved to Pine Bush where he served as an elementary school principal for 30 years. Now Parker resides in Ridgeland, Mississippi near his son Jeff Parker. Parker has two other sons and many grandchildren.

Earning the Combat Ribbon was a warm surprise for Parker. “He [Senator Wicker] read the proclamation and in that proclamation he mentioned what I did when I was in the Navy, [as well as] the ship I was on and the action that I was involved in. I was very surprised, touched and glad,” said Parker.

The Department of the Navy established the Combat Action Ribbon in 1969. Recipients are eligible after thorough research to ensure they’ve met the criteria of engaging in direct combat with an enemy.

Veteran’s Day was this past Friday, and Parker explained what it means to him. “Their (veterans) life was interrupted by going into a war to help and all people should realize that. Yes, I’m fortunate that I’m here to be able to celebrate it, but what about all the other people who have not returned from that?”

Parker currently lives in an assisted living facility, but enjoys spending time with his son Jeff. He also stays in contact with the rest of his family. He mentioned he doesn’t own a TV, but rather a radio which he uses for the news or commentators. Parker also likes to read.

“He gets a Sunday New York Times delivered and reads that every week. He also gets the Wallkill Valley Times delivered and enjoys it,” said son Jeff Parker.