Laverne Parrish

Laverne Parrish was a United States Army combat medic whose extraordinary courage during the liberation of Luzon earned him the Medal of Honor. In January 1945, he repeatedly entered exposed ground under Japanese fire to rescue and treat wounded soldiers, ultimately sacrificing his life while attempting to save others.

Born on 16 July 1918 in Knox City, Missouri, Parrish later moved with his family to Montana. He entered Army service from the Ronan area in March 1941. During World War II, he served with the Medical Detachment of the 161st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, accompanying Company C as a medical aidman.

The 161st Infantry fought in the Guadalcanal and Northern Solomons campaigns before joining the liberation of the Philippines. By January 1945 Parrish held the rank of technician fourth grade. On 18 January, during the fighting around Binalonan on Luzon, he moved a wounded soldier to cover and crossed open ground under enemy fire to assist another casualty.

Six days later, near San Manuel, Company C came under intense Japanese fire. After the company withdrew into a ditch, Parrish saw wounded men lying exposed in a field. He crawled forward under fire and brought two men back in separate trips. He then repeatedly crossed the field to treat twelve other casualties and carried three additional wounded soldiers into cover.

Parrish continued his medical work until he had treated nearly all of the company's 37 casualties. Enemy mortar fire mortally wounded him on 24 January 1945. His actions saved the lives of fellow soldiers and exemplified the courage of frontline combat medics in the Pacific War.

He received the Medal of Honor posthumously under War Department General Orders No. 55, dated 13 July 1945. Contemporary newspaper reports document the presentation of his medal to his parents at a ceremony in Ronan, Montana, on 2 August 1945. Parrish is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Ronan. His Medal of Honor is preserved by the Montana Military Museum at Fort Harrison.