John Joseph Parle

Infobox Military Person
name=John Joseph Parle
born= birth date|1920|5|26
died= death date and age|1943|7|10|1920|5|26
placeofbirth=Omaha, Nebraska
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Naval Reserve
serviceyears=
rank=Ensign
commands=
unit=USS "LST-375"
battles=World War II
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

John Joseph Parle (May 26, 1920 – July 10, 1943) was a United States Naval Reserve officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

On July 9, 1943, Parle was serving as an ensign and was involved in the preparations for the Allied invasion of Sicily. On that day, he noticed a fire aboard a small boat loaded with explosives and ammunition. Knowing that an explosion would alert the defenders on Sicily of the impending invasion, he rushed to put out the fire. Although successful in dousing the flames, he later died of smoke inhalation.

Parle, aged 23 at his death, was buried at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in his birth city of Omaha, Nebraska.

Medal of Honor citation

Ensign Parle's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For valor and courage above and beyond the call of duty as Officer-in-Charge of Small Boats in the U.S.S. "LST 375" during the amphibious assault on the island of Sicily, 9-10 July 1943. Realizing that a detonation of explosives would prematurely disclose to the enemy the assault about to be carried out, and with full knowledge of the peril involved, Ens. Parle unhesitatingly risked his life to extinguish a smoke pot accidentally ignited in a boat carrying charges of high explosives, detonating fuses and ammunition. Undaunted by fire and blinding smoke, he entered the craft, quickly snuffed out a burning fuse, and after failing in his desperate efforts to extinguish the fire pot, finally seized it with both hands and threw it over the side. Although he succumbed a week later from smoke and fumes inhaled, Ens. Parle's heroic self-sacrifice prevented grave damage to the ship and personnel and insured the security of a vital mission. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients

ee also

References

*findagrave|6404320 Retrieved on 2007-11-13

*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (M-S)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = July 16, 2007
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/wwII-m-s.html
accessdate = 2007-11-13

Persondata
NAME= Parle, John Joseph
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=