George M. Parker

World War II On November 4, 1941, shortly before the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, Parker was assigned the command of the South Luzon Force, which consisted of the 41st Division, 51st Division and the Battery A of 86th Field Artillery Regiment of the Philippine Scouts. The 41st Division was centered around Nasugbu, Batangas and Tagaytay Ridge to meet any landings by the Japanese on the western shores of Southern Luzon, while the 51st was assigned on the eastern shores of in the event the Japanese would land in the vicinity of Lamon Bay.

On December 23, two weeks after the Japanese landings, the SLF was ordered to Bataan as General Douglas MacArthur activated War Plan Orange. On December 24 Parker was appointed commander of the Bataan Defense Force (BDF) and promoted to major general. On January 6, 1942, the BDF was converted to the Philippines II Corps, during the Battle of Bataan.

Parker surrendered the II Philippine Corps on April 9, 1942 and was a prisoner of war until the Japanese surrender in August 1945. He was one of 18 American Army generals captured in the Philippines.

General Parker retired from the Army on September 30, 1946. He moved to Oregon and died at a nursing home in Portland. He was interred at the Mount Crest Abbey Mausoleum in Salem, Oregon on October 25, 1968.

Decorations Army Distinguished Service Medal Prisoner of War Medal (posthumous)Mexican Border Service MedalWorld War I Victory MedalAmerican Defense Service Medal with "Foreign Service" claspAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one campaign starWorld War II Victory MedalPhilippine Defense Medal with service star

Dates of rank

Source: U.S. Army Register, 1948.