Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private First Class · U.S. Army

Parker Francis Dunn

Private First Class Parker Francis Dunn, Army, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on October 23, 1918 near Grand-Pre during World War I.

World War I October 23, 1918Posthumous

Private First Class Parker Francis Dunn, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on October 23, 1918 near Grand-Pre during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company A, 312th Infantry, 78th Division. Dunn was 28 years old.

Dunn was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded.

Dunn was born on August 8, 1890 in Albany, Albany County, New York. He is buried at St. Agnes Cemetery in Albany, New York. His medal is held by Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, NY.

Dunn is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Wounded but Fought On★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor citation

When his battalion commander found it necessary to send a message to a company in the attacking line and hesitated to order a runner to make the trip because of the extreme danger involved, Pfc. Dunn, a member of the intelligence section, volunteered for the mission. After advancing but a short distance across a field swept by artillery and machine-gun fire, he was wounded, but continued on and fell wounded a second time. Still undaunted, he perisistently attempted to carry out his mission until he was killed by a machine-gun bullet before reaching the advance line.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and death in action

What the citation records about his wounds:

After advancing but a short distance across a field swept by artillery and machine-gun fire, he was wounded, but continued on and fell wounded a second time.
  • Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (October 23, 1918).
  • Age at death: 28
  • Resting place: St. Agnes Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Albany — map
  • Died: Grandpré — map
  • Buried: St. Agnes Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. August 8, 1890
    Born in Albany, Albany County, New York
  2. October 23, 1918
    Act of valor — near Grand-Pre
    Age 28. Company A, 312th Infantry, 78th Division Killed in action.
  3. Resting place
    St. Agnes Cemetery
    Albany, New York

Biography

Parker F. Dunn (August 8, 1890 – October 23, 1918) was an American soldier serving in the United States Army during World War I who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “Parker F. Dunn”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

More World War I recipients from New York

Matej Kocak Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 ✦ RW Reidar Waaler Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 Tedford Harris Cann Seaman · Navy World War I · 1917 William Shemin Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ Michael Valente Private · Army World War I · 1918 George G. McMurtry Captain · Army World War I · 1918
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.