Parker, John, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Inez Bridges Tate. ************************************************ Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical Association, 1995. Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and reprinted with permission. John Parker was born in Dossville, Mississippi and lived there until he was 12 years old. At this time, on November 11, 1938, the family moved to Norwood, Louisiana. John attended Norwood High School. His parents moved to Jackson in 1942. After school, John worked as a plumbers' helper for Ameri- can Heating and Plumbing Company out of Baton Rouge. The job was at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi and John was paid 50 cents an hour. He chuckled and said he didn't know how he would spend all of that money. John was drafted into the Navy on June 14, 1944, reporting to New Orleans. Basic training was at San Diego, California. He had additional training as part of amphibious forces on Coro- nado Island. This training lasted for six weeks. He then reported to Astoria, Oregon where he was assigned to the USS Rockwall APA 230 (Auxilliary Personnel Attack). They proceeded down the coast to Port Wyman near Oakland, California where they picked up PT boats and ammunition. Their next stop was at Honolulu where 2500 CB's boarded the ship, bringing their equip- ment. They then proceeded to Eniwetok for their orders. John said this small island was virtually destroyed by bombs. They next made port at Tinian, which is part of the Marshall Islands. Here the CB's disembarked from the ship. This group was ordered to build the big airstrip which was to handle the B 29's that were sent out to bomb Japan. The USS Rockwall returned to Pearl Harbor. Here John left the ship and entered the hospital. He was hospitalized for about six months for treatment of chronic sea sickness. Upon being discharged from the hospital, he was assigned to Pearl Harbor Naval Supply Depot for a year, then returned to the States in February 1946. He was discharged on March 6, 1946 in New Orleans. He returned to Jackson to his bride, the former Miss Myrtis Newsom whom he had wed August 11, 1943. They are the parents of four children and six grandchildren. John worked at the Baton Rouge Fire Department from 1947 - 1976, retiring as Assistant Fire Chief in charge of training. He worked part time for Zachary Fire Department from November 1968 to November 1978. He worked at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola in the Training Academy, training correctional officers from May 1979 to August 15, 1981. From 1981 until the present time he has worked for L.S.U. Firemen's Training. He presently works with 64 Fire Departments. He plans to retire at year's end. John and Myrtis moved to the New Zion Community July 29, 1978. They live near her sister in Easleyville Community. * * *