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Remembering a Hero
The first Vietnam casualty from Bourbon County, Harvey Russell Parker, formerly of Fulton, will forever be remembered in the hearts of those who knew him for his loyalty, determination and zest for life.
According to his sister Martha, Parker was a happy young man, who enjoyed spending time with his friends and playing football, but his life was cut short in 1967 when he was only 20-years-old. Although his death was a tragedy, according to Parker's friends, he died a heroic death.
Don Russell, one of Parker's childhood friends said, "I know there's a lot of heroes, but maybe because he was a private, he didn't get the recognition he deserved."
Parker was drafted into the Army in December of 1965. During a combat mission on Jan. 5, 1967, Parker's unit began a tactical withdraw, attempting to retreat to safety. It was during the withdraw that Parker received his fatal wounds while continually firing at the enemy to allow the other members of his unit to retreat.
"Even though he was wounded," Don said, "he kept firing to help the others get away."
Chuck Russell and Harold Coleman, also close friends of Parker, said Parker's dedication combined with his training is what gave him the ability to keep shooting even after he had been wounded.
"Harvey had been trained in jungle warfare, and I bet he kept shooting until he bled to death," Chuck said.
Coleman, who also spent time serving in Vietnam, added, "You do it (keep shooting) for your buddies. If your depending on someone, and they're depending on you, that's probably the best motivation you can have."
According to Parker's three friends, they were not surprised to learn of Parker's actions because they had always known him to be kind and loyal.
"No one is surprised that he fired while everyone retreated," Don said. "He was the perfect soldier because he would have done everything they told him to do without question."
"Yes," Chuck agreed. "He would have done whatever they told him to do without question."
"And he would have done it to the peak of his ability," Coleman added.
According to Don, it is believed that only three members of Parker's unit survived the combat mission that ended Parker's life.
A few months before he died, Parker was able to come home and visit friends and family members one last time. During his visit, Parker expressed feelings of uncertainty that he would survive the war, according to Martha.
"When he was home that last time, he had mentioned that he wanted to be baptized before he went back because he didn't feel he would come back alive," she said.
Although Parker also expressed his fears to his friends, the news of his death was devastating, according to Coleman.
"I remember when I first heard the news," Coleman said. "It dang near knocked me to my knees. I thought, 'Why did that have to happen?'"
Although Martha doesn't remember a lot of details surrounding her brother's death because she was only 10-years-old at the time, she said she does remember that his funeral drew a very large crowd of people.
"At the time, it was one of the largest funerals ever to be in Fort Scott," she said.
Parker was given a Bronze Star medal, a Purple Heart medal, a Military Merit medal and a Galantry Cross with Palm medal for his service and the sacrifice he made for his country. His name was engraved on the Veteran's memorial in Skubitz Plaza, and also on a flag that flies at the National Cemetery in Fort Scott.