William Parker

William Parker remained at the wheel of USS Cayuga while the ship forced its way past the Confederate forts below New Orleans under punishing fire.

Born about 1832 in Boston, Massachusetts, Parker served in the Union Navy as captain of the afterguard aboard USS Cayuga. During the passage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip and the fighting toward New Orleans on 24 and 25 April 1862, Cayuga was repeatedly struck by enemy fire. Parker stayed at the wheel through the action.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): During the attack below New Orleans on 24 and 25 April 1862, Parker remained at his post at the wheel of USS Cayuga while the ship was heavily engaged and repeatedly hit.

The surviving authoritative sources securely establish his Navy service and Medal of Honor action, but do not provide enough reliable evidence to reconstruct his later life without speculation.

His verified rack consists of the Medal of Honor and the Navy Civil War Campaign Medal. The generic Army Civil War Campaign Medal is not appropriate for his naval service. No ribbon device is supported.