John Roberson Parker was born on February 24, 1925. He was the son of Duke Roberson Parker and Fleeta B. Parker.

John served as a crewmember of the Patrol Bombing Squadron 117, McGuire Field, Mindoro, Philippines. On January 28, 1945, he took off with the rest of his crew (LTJG White's Crew), which were based at Jinamoc Seaplane Base, San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, Philippines. They were shot down in their PBY (PB4Y-1) while on patrol to Fermosa and the China coast. Four crew members were killed at the crash site. One died of his injuries a few days later. ENS Bertrang, the Co-Pilot, and five crew members survived the crash and were taken as prisoners of war. ENS Bertrang was taken to Tokyo for medical reasons, as well as for interrogation, as the Japanese thought he could furnish information for them. He alone was the only one to survive hostilities and return home at the end of the war. The remaining five were placed at Taihoku Prison #5 with eight other Army and Navy flyers. They were given a mock war tribunal, pronounced guilty of indiscriminate bombing, and sentenced to death by firing squad. On June 19, 1945, they were all marched inside of the outer wall of the prison and killed by a Japanese firing squad.

Those executed by the Japanese were: AMM3c J.C. Buchanan USNR; ARM3c Wayne Warren Wilson USNR; AOM3c Delbert Hugh Carter USNR; ARM3c Donald Keith Hathaway USNR; and AMM3c John Roberson Parker USN. They were cremated and their ashes placed in a local Japanese Shinto temple. At the end of the war, the remains were turned over to the Allies for burial.

AMM3C Parker was interred at the Clearwater Municipal Cemetery, Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, USA.

Source of photo: www.powtaiwan.org