Frank Parker (general)


Frank Parker was a Major General in the United States Army. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, 2 silver star citations, and numerous foreign decorations and civilian accolades.

Early life

Frank Parker was born September 21, 1872 in Georgetown County, South Carolina. He was descended from John Parker, Arthur Middleton, Thomas Heyward and John Rutledge.
He initially attended the University of South Carolina, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He subsequently attended the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1894, after which he served in the Spanish–American War in 1898 and Puerto Rico from 1899 to 1900. He also served as an instructor at the United States Military Academy from 1900 to 1903.
In 1904, he graduated from the Cavalry School in Saumur, France, and served as military attaché, Caracas, Venezuela, 1904–05, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1905–06, and Cuba in 1906–08. He was an instructor and organizer of cavalry in Cuba from 1909 to 1912.
In 1912, he attended the École Supérieure de Guerre, France. He was a member of the Cavalry Board from 1913 to 1914.

World War I

He returned to the École Supérieure de Guerre, 1914 to 1915. He was an US observer with French armies in field, 1916 to 1917, and then served as chief of American Military Mission at French General Headquarters.
With the American entry into World War I in 1917, Parker was promoted to brigadier general, and was the commander 18th Infantry and 1st Infantry Brigade and then was appointed commander, 1st Division, A.E.F., in October 1918.

Post World War I

He was recommended for promotion to major general by General Pershing, but the Armistice stopped all promotions of general officers. In 1920, he graduated from the École Supérieure de Guerre, France and remained there as a professor while a student at the Centre des Hautes Études, 1920–21. Then, he graduated and instructed at the Command and Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, 1922, graduate and instructor, Army War College, 1923–24. From 1925–27 he commanded a brigade of the 1st Division.
In 1927, he received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of South Carolina. He was Assistant Chief of Staff 1927–29, and commander of the Sixth Corps Area. He was promoted to major general in 1929, and from 1932-33 he headed the Philippine Department.
In 1933, he received a degree in Agriculture and Applied Science from Michigan State College. He was decorated with Order of the Crown of Italy for his service in connection with aid for transatlantic flight of Italo Balbo.
From 1933 to 1935, he commanded the 1st Division. In February 1936, he took command of the Eighth Corps Area and commanded the Third Army from March to September 1936.

Post retirement

After his retirement on September 30, 1936, Major General Parker made his home in Chicago. He served as the Executive Director of the Illinois War Council during World War II.
He died on March 13, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. He was buried at Mansfield Cemetery in Mansfield, Ohio.

Personal life

He married Katherine Hamilton Lahm.