US Mountain Ranger Association

Emory Parrish Emory C. Parrish Jr. was born in Los Angeles, California on 22 March 1943. Sgt. Parrish had three siblings, brothers Kenneth, Gray and sister Sharon. Emory attended Sunny Hill High School in Fullerton, California and played football on the Varsity Team receiving an Athletic Letter. Emory first enlisted in the Army at Portland, Oregon on 2 November 1961 and received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army on 1 February 1974, having served 12 years and 3 days of active duty. During his years of service he carried out his duties in the following specialty numbers: 112.00-Heavy Weapons Infantry; 11C40-Infantry Indirect Fire Crewman and 11F40-Infantry Operations and Intelligence Specialist.

Sgt. Parrish served his first tour in the Republic of Vietnam from 11 March 1967 to 8 March 1968 assigned to Company E, 50TH INFANTRY (LONG RANGE PATROL), 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION and on departure received a Letter of Commendation from his Commanding Officer which reads in part as follows:
SSG Emory Parrish performance of duty during his stay with Co E, 50th Infantry (Long Range Patrol) was highly professional. His attitude and cooperativeness along with his application of leadership principles and his military knowledge made SSG Parrish a very valuable asset to this command. Mission after mission SSG Parrish would volunteer to take his team into a known hot Viet Cong area. SSG Parrish's ability and performance in the field is shown by his outstanding record. Due to his professional competence in the field, SSG Parrish gained the respect of his subordinates and contemporaries as well as his superiors. SSG Parrish conforms in appearance, ability, military knowledge, reliability and conduct to the highest traditions of the military service, and is one of the finest soldiers I have had the pleasure of commanding. I would like to commend SSG Parrish for his loyal and professional service he performed while under my command. SSG Parrish possesses great drive, initiative and much more potential than any other individual I have known in his pay grade and MOS. I recommend SSG Parrish be considered for promotion to Sergeant First Class E-7. A copy of this letter will be inserted in your Field Military 201 File and be made a permanent part of your records. Signed Dale L. Dickey, 1 LT INF Commanding.

SSG Parrish received the following awards while serving his first tour in the Republic of Vietnam: Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and 2 Overseas Service Bars.

It should be noted that Sergeant Emory Parrish on attending the MACV RECONDO SCHOOL, 5TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (ABN) CLASS 02-68 successfully completed the course as the, "DISTINGUISHED HONOR GRADUATE" and was presented with his Certificate bearing his MACV RECONDO NR 546. He further received a Letter of Commendation from THE COMMANDING GENERAL, 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION, MAJOR GENERAL G. G. O'CONNOR commending him on this outstanding achievement.

On returning to service in the United States he was assigned to HQ Company, United States Army Combat Developments Command Experimentation Command (WOH1AA), PROJECT TEAM 11, Fort Ord, Ca., as a Field Operations Sergeant and received the ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL and a LETTER OF COMMENDATION, for Service to this Command.

On returning to the Republic of Vietnam for a second tour of duty 17 September 1970 to 16 September 1971, Sgt. Parrish was awarded a Bronze Star Medal and an Army Commendation Medal and two Overseas Service Bars.

On returning once again to duty in the United States SSG Parrish continued to serve with Co D 4th Bn School Bde USASESS 3d Army, Ft Ord, Ca. and Co A 5th Bn School Bde USASESS TRADOC, Ft Gordon, Ga., until his Honorable Discharge on 1 February 1974.

While in service Sgt. Parish was Awarded and received the following Decorations and Badges: BRONZE STAR MEDAL w/OLC, ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL w/OLC, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENCE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL w/silver star device, Vietnam Campaign Medal, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, EXPERT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PARACHUTE BADGE and 4 O/S BARS.

Emory Parrish on returning to civilian life moved to Florida in 1974 and took a job with the Tampa Electric Company. After three years in Florida he courted a lovely lady by the name of Shirley and took her as his bride. Shirley had 5 children from a previous marriage and Emory raised these children as his own. Shirley's children, Dennis Meyers (wife Susane), Kenneth Franks (wife Lynn), Cecilia Pletcher, Karen McChord (husband Donald) and Lola O'Steen (husband William) all found Emory to be a good and caring man as well as a devoted husband to Shirley.

Emory Parrish left the Army but he never deserted or forgot the men he served with and maintained contact with Company E Ranger/E 50 LRP and 9th Div LRRP Veterans and the Ranger/LRP/LRRP Community. Emory was at every reunion with his movie camera and willingness to pitch in and get things done. Unfortunately Emory became ill but continued to maintain his devotion to his fellow soldiers, friends and family until he passed away on 2 December 2005. Emory is greatly missed by all and set the example as he fought against his illness, courageously, always giving 100% and then some. RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!!!!