Vilas D. Parker was born May 22, 1917, in Wisconsin, to Clyde and Verna Parker.
Vilas served in the US Army's 5307th Composite Group (commonly referred to Merrill's Marauders) and was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Vilas married Evelyn, his girlfriend of three years, in Massachusetts on April 8, 1942. He shipped out for overseas duty the next day. She never saw Vilas again, though they corresponded frequently while he was away.
SSGT Vilas Parker was listed as missing in Action after the C-47 he was a passenger in crashed in bad weather in the remote mountains of Burma, May 22, 1944. He was missing, presumed dead for more than 40 years. His remains were finally located at the remote mountain crash site in September 1987 by Burmese rebel troops in the Kachin Independence Organisation. According to newspaper reports, some remains were repatriated, but it is not clear where or if they were interred in the United States. 6 others were also killed in the plane crash.
His name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines. There is also a memorial marker at Rienzi Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin adjacent to his parents burial site. The memorial marker lists 1946 as the year of death, but this the date he was presumed to be dead following the end of World War II.
Vilas served in the US Army's 5307th Composite Group (commonly referred to Merrill's Marauders) and was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Vilas married Evelyn, his girlfriend of three years, in Massachusetts on April 8, 1942. He shipped out for overseas duty the next day. She never saw Vilas again, though they corresponded frequently while he was away.
SSGT Vilas Parker was listed as missing in Action after the C-47 he was a passenger in crashed in bad weather in the remote mountains of Burma, May 22, 1944. He was missing, presumed dead for more than 40 years. His remains were finally located at the remote mountain crash site in September 1987 by Burmese rebel troops in the Kachin Independence Organisation. According to newspaper reports, some remains were repatriated, but it is not clear where or if they were interred in the United States. 6 others were also killed in the plane crash.
His name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines. There is also a memorial marker at Rienzi Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin adjacent to his parents burial site. The memorial marker lists 1946 as the year of death, but this the date he was presumed to be dead following the end of World War II.
Vilas D. Parker was born May 22, 1917, in Wisconsin, to Clyde and Verna Parker.
Vilas served in the US Army's 5307th Composite Group (commonly referred to Merrill's Marauders) and was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Vilas married Evelyn, his girlfriend of three years, in Massachusetts on April 8, 1942. He shipped out for overseas duty the next day. She never saw Vilas again, though they corresponded frequently while he was away.
SSGT Vilas Parker was listed as missing in Action after the C-47 he was a passenger in crashed in bad weather in the remote mountains of Burma, May 22, 1944. He was missing, presumed dead for more than 40 years. His remains were finally located at the remote mountain crash site in September 1987 by Burmese rebel troops in the Kachin Independence Organisation. According to newspaper reports, some remains were repatriated, but it is not clear where or if they were interred in the United States. 6 others were also killed in the plane crash.
His name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines. There is also a memorial marker at Rienzi Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin adjacent to his parents burial site. The memorial marker lists 1946 as the year of death, but this the date he was presumed to be dead following the end of World War II.
Vilas served in the US Army's 5307th Composite Group (commonly referred to Merrill's Marauders) and was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Vilas married Evelyn, his girlfriend of three years, in Massachusetts on April 8, 1942. He shipped out for overseas duty the next day. She never saw Vilas again, though they corresponded frequently while he was away.
SSGT Vilas Parker was listed as missing in Action after the C-47 he was a passenger in crashed in bad weather in the remote mountains of Burma, May 22, 1944. He was missing, presumed dead for more than 40 years. His remains were finally located at the remote mountain crash site in September 1987 by Burmese rebel troops in the Kachin Independence Organisation. According to newspaper reports, some remains were repatriated, but it is not clear where or if they were interred in the United States. 6 others were also killed in the plane crash.
His name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines. There is also a memorial marker at Rienzi Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin adjacent to his parents burial site. The memorial marker lists 1946 as the year of death, but this the date he was presumed to be dead following the end of World War II.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Wisconsin.
Family Members
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