World War II Army veteran celebrates 100th birthday

ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) — Dozens of people were at Cleveland Presbyterian Church in Abingdon to celebrate Don Parker turning 100 on April 28.

“Don, you are rarer than a comet or an eclipse of the sun,” Pastor Rick Laney said from the pulpit.

The entire service was dedicated to him and making sure the D-Day veteran knew the church was thankful for him.

“It’s a very wonderful thing that they’ve done for me,” Parker said.

The World War II Army veteran was in combat as an infantryman during the invasion at Normandy, landing on Utah beach.

“We went on troop ship of course and we got so far they threw a cargo net over and they had landing crafts come beside and we climbed down the cargo net into the landing craft,” Parker said. “When they opened the landing craft, the front just caved out and we’d jump down in the water.”

He was in the 314th infantry, 79th division.

“I would get on my hands and knees and probe with the bayonet for hiding pressure bombs.,” he said. “I picked up my ammo on it…and I think I put a bullet into one or two planes. I don’t think I hurt anybody I don’t think.”

“Brilliant generals, and I include Patton. Patton knew his work and he did good generals, but he was just pretty rough on the people, and you had to be I guess,” said Parker. “If I turn it around and look at it from his way, he was probably right in almost everything he did. He was smart, he was good in the work of being a general.”

Parker was shot in the foot and received a Purple Heart.

“They said I was going to die so they took me off and put me in a private room,” he said.

But he survived and centered his life around serving others. He married Eulola and had three children. He was studying for his master’s degree in sociology when he got the call to join a different kind of army, the Lord’s army.

“I said, ‘Honey, I’ve got to tell you this, I’m going to have to be a preacher.’ She looked at me and said, ‘I always wanted to marry a preacher,'” Parker said with a laugh.

Eulola passed away from cancer in 1996. A few years later, he married Bonnie. They have six children and “a lot” of grandchildren and great-grandchildren between them.

Decades later, the same church he retired from the pulpit at held a massive celebration where he received a Commending Resolution from the state of Virginia.

“He is certainly a deserving person to get that bestowed upon him. We also gave him a state flag that’s been flown over our state capitol in Richmond,” said Todd Pillion (VA-6). “He is a true hero and famous person walking among us and we have to make sure that he is recognized throughout our country and especially here in Southwest Virginia.”

Parker also received a proclamation and key to the Town of Abingdon.

“It’s overwhelming to think about the things that Mr. Parker did and the things that he’s seen in his lifetime,” said Abingdon Mayor and Veterans Advisory Board member Amanda Pillion. “I worked at the [Veterans Affairs] quite a while ago, 20 plus years ago and at that time there weren’t a lot of WWII veterans, even then and now there are so few of them left to tell about everything that they did and the way that the world has changed since WWII.”

Friends and family from across the country came in for the celebration too.

“He’s a fantastic, kind person… always giving for other people and for the community,” said Parker’s grandson and Navy veteran Samuel Vorhes.

And while the party was far more than Parker could have ever imagined, those there are now part of his legacy.

“Every one of us is a part of history and you live as long as long as God wants you to live and you die when God wants you to die,” he said.

And as far as what to do to make it to 100:

“Believe in the word of Jesus Christ and get saved — that’s my advice,” he said.

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