Walk Among Heroes
Jeff Wells
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Walk Among Heroes Podcast- Episode 14C - Bill Parker (D-Day Veteran) Part 3
Don't miss the conclusion of our three-part conversation with our guest for Episode 14, D-Day Veteran Bill Parker. Part of the 116th Regiment, 29th Division, Mr. Parker landed with the first wave on Omaha Beach, D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was possibly the first Allied soldier to set foot on Omaha Beach. Although there is no way to historically verify who took the first step on Omaha Beach, Mr. Parker was definitely among the earliest men to land on that fateful day. Part of a wire-breaching team, he was the first man to step into the water when the ramp dropped on his Higgins boat. When asked why he believes he could be the first man to land on Omaha Beach, he says very candidly, ‘because there were no other people or bodies on the beach in front of us.’ As Mr. Parker and four other men (his wire breaching team) stepped off the Higgins Boat, an artillery round struck the boat, killing the remaining 33 men onboard. Mr. Parker takes us through his harrowing ordeal on Omaha Beach that day, as his team breached wire obstacles using Bangalore torpedoes, then eventually assaulted a pill box along the bluff, expending all of their ammunition as a result. Within a matter of days, Mr. Parker was promoted from private to staff sergeant, due to heavy losses sustained in his company. He led a squad through the hedgerows, conducting attack-after-attack. Following the breakout, Mr. Parker continued fighting throughout Europe, liberating town-after-town, and eventually reaching the Elbe River. He actually crossed the Elbe to retrieve one of his soldiers, and spent some time with the Russians as a result. Today, Mr. Parker resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he has lived for the majority of his life. Episode 14 will consist of three parts. 14A focuses on Mr. Parker’s upbringing, Army training, and travel to Europe. 14B focuses on D-Day, Normandy, and his incredible journey through Europe to the Elbe River. 14C concludes Mr. Parkers military service, then discusses his life after the military, as well as several life lessons that he details for all of us. Thank you, Shreyas Ganesh, for donating your time as sound engineer for this podcast.
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