Menu
  • Abous us
  • Search database
  • Resources
  • Donate
  • Faq

Parrish Roy Earl

Name:
Roy Earl Parrish
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
Unit:
6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Death:
1918-07-18
State:
West Virginia
Cemetery:
Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, France
Plot:
C
Row:
3
Grave:
8
Decoration:
Comments:

Roy Earl Parrish was born on November 27, 1888, in Wallace, West Virginia, the third of seven children born to Thomas and Mary Morgan Parrish. Roy attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, graduating in 1908, and West Virginia University, where he studied law before graduating in 1910. He was admitted to the bar in 1910 and practiced law until 1917. Roy Parrish was elected to the House of Delegates in 1912 and served in the 1913 legislative session. In 1914, he was elected to the State Senate. His committee assignments included Insurance, of which he was chairman, Judiciary, Education, Railroads, Militia and Public Library.

In 1917, Roy entered Officer's Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison at Indianapolis, Indiana. He remained there until August 15, receiving a commission as a second lieutenant of Field Artillery. In September, Roy was transferred to Camp Sheridan in Alabama, where he was appointed Assistant Judge Advocate. He served in this capacity until November 20, 1917.

Roy Parrish sailed for duty overseas on January 14, 1918, and arrived in France in early February. After three months of special training, he was ordered to the front as a member of the 6th Field Artillery, First Division.

Lt. Parrish took part in the Chateau-Thierry Drive. On July 18, the day Allied troops began a counteroffensive against the Germans, Roy was sent on liaison work. When the regiment reassembled after the attack, he was missing. The War Department reported that Roy Parrish was killed on July 18, 1918. According to the captain of the infantry, he was killed by a German shell and at first was buried in a large shell hole in an open field north of Missy-aux-Bois.

After the war, Roy Parrish's father sought to locate his son's remains. Based on the location of his burial provided in original reports, it was concluded that his remains were those found near the area of battle, close to a canteen cup with "Faris" written on it. It was assumed the name had originally been "Parrish" and that it had been changed due to corrosion. Those remains were re-interred at Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in France.

He has a cenotaph located at West Virginia National Cemetery, Grafton, Taylor County, West Virginia, USA.

Source of information: http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/vets/parrishroy/parrishroy.html