James Parker (US Army officer)

Infobox Military Person
name=James Parker
born= birth date|1854|2|20
died= death date and age|1934|6|2|1854|2|20
placeofbirth=Newark, New Jersey
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption= James Parker, Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=1876-1918
rank= Major General
commands=
unit=
battles=Indian Wars Spanish-American War Philippine-American War
awards=Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (3)
laterwork=
relations=MajGen Cortland Parker, U.S. Army — son; Commander James Parker, Jr., USN — son

James Parker (February 20, 1854 – June 2, 1934) was a Major General in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the Philippine-American War during 1899. His son, Cortlandt Parker, also became a Major General in the United States Army.

Biography

Born in Newark, New Jersey on February 20, 1854, James Parker was educated at Newark Academy, Phillips Academy (Andover, Massachusetts) and Rutgers College, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi fraternity. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1876, thirty-first in a class of fifty cadets, and was appointed Second Lieutenant. Thus began his forty-two years of military service which culminated in his appointment as a Major General in the U.S. Army.

He is buried in Saint Mary's Episcopal Churchyard Portsmouth, Rhode Island.findagrave|7158000 Retrieved on 2007-11-24]

Military career

He spent his early years serving in the Fourth United States Cavalry participating in the Indian Wars of the Southwest. His military career was influenced by the magnetic personality of the commander of the Fourth Cavalry, General Ranald S. Mackenzie, a legend for his success as a cavalry commander in the American Civil War. In May 1886, First Lieutenant Parker commanded one column of troops sent into Mexico to track down the famous Apache leader Geronimo and his band, and cooperated with Captain Henry W. Lawton and First Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood when Geronimo was captured.

Later he served as the second in command of the 12th New York in Cuba during the Spanish-American War and saw significant combat while commanding troops in the Philippine-American War during 1899 where he earned the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor citation

Citation:

:While in command of a small garrison repulsed a savage night attack by overwhelming numbers of the enemy, fighting at close quarters in the dark for several hours.

Decorations

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Major General Parker was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and three Silver Stars for his service and battlefield exploits.cite web
accessdate=2007-11-24
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/philippine.html
title = James Parker, Medal of Honor recipient
work = Philippine Insurrection
publisher Army Medal of Honor website
date =]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients

Notes

References

*findagrave|7158000 Retrieved on 2007-11-24
*cite web
accessdate=2007-11-24
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/philippine.html
title = James Parker, Medal of Honor recipient
work = Philippine Insurrection
publisher Army Medal of Honor website
date =
*cite web
accessdate=2007-05-12
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3905/is_200611/ai_n17193764
title=Submarine Skipper: Commander James Parker, Jr. USN
work=Military Images
date=November/December 2006
author=Harrower, Gordon

Persondata
NAME= Parker, James
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=