Technician Fourth Grade Laverne Parrish was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions between January 18 and 24, 1945 in Binalonan, Luzon, Philippine Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with Medical Detachment, 161st Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Parrish was 26 years old.
Parrish was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on June 25, 1945 — the White House, presented by Pres. Harry S. Truman.
Parrish was born on July 16, 1918 in Knox City, Knox County, Missouri. His Medal of Honor is credited to Ronan, Lake County, Montana. He is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Ronan, Montana. His medal is held by Montana Military Museum, Fort Harrison, MT.
Parrish is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 9 credited to Montana.
Official Medal of Honor citation
He was medical aidman with Company C during the fighting in Binalonan, Luzon, Philippine Islands. On the 18th, he observed two wounded men under enemy fire and immediately went to their rescue. After moving one to cover, he crossed 25 yards of open ground to administer aid to the second. In the early hours of the 24th, his company, crossing an open field near San Manuel, encountered intense enemy fire and was ordered to withdraw to the cover of a ditch. While treating casualties, Technician Parrish observed two wounded still in the field. Without hesitation he left the ditch, crawled forward under enemy fire, and in two successive trips brought both men to safety. He next administered aid to 12 casualties in the same field, crossing and recrossing the open area raked by hostile fire. Making successive trips, he then brought three wounded to cover. After treating nearly all of the 37 casualties suffered by his company, he was mortally wounded by mortar fire, and shortly after was killed. The indomitable spirit, intrepidity, and gallantry of Technician Parrish saved many lives at the cost of his own.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
On the 18th, he observed two wounded men under enemy fire and immediately went to their rescue.
Making successive trips, he then brought three wounded to cover.
After treating nearly all of the 37 casualties suffered by his company, he was mortally wounded by mortar fire, and shortly after was killed.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (January 24, 1945).
- Age at death: 26
- Resting place: Mountain View Cemetery
Timeline
- July 16, 1918Born in Knox City, Knox County, Missouri
- January 18 - 24, 1945Act of valor — Binalonan, Luzon, Philippine IslandsAge 26. Medical Detachment, 161st Infantry, 25th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- June 25, 1945Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe White House, presented by Pres. Harry S. Truman
- Resting placeMountain View CemeteryRonan, Montana
