Private Claude Raymond Parker
Pte. Parker was born on January 27, 1925, in Whitney, New Brunswick. His father was Canadian and his mother from Wisconsin, U.S.A. He attended Whitney School while growing up and completed grade 8. He also enjoyed playing baseball regularly. His first job was farming but he worked several other odd jobs along the way before accepting full-time employment as a woodsman for a lumber company. With the war raging, Parker felt compelled to serve his country. He left the lumber company and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (R.C.A.F.) on May 5, 1943.
After spending a year with the R.C.A.F., he requested a transfer to the Army on May 11, 1944, and reported to the Army Reception Centre at Fredericton, New Brunswick. He was taken on strength at the Canadian Infantry Training Centre on June 2, 1944. He later requested a transfer to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and was sent to the Canadian Parachute Training Centre on December 10, 1944, where he completed his Parachute Course on March 8, 1945.
As the war was beginning to wind down in Europe, Parker volunteered for the Pacific Theatre on July 3, 1945. However, the need for troops for that theatre was no longer being considered. Then, with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion being disbanded as it was no longer required, he transferred to the West Nova Scotia Regiment. Parker was released from the military on February 23, 1946, and returned back to civilian life. If you have read this, then you have kept the memory of Private Claude Raymond Parker alive.
