The Captains (40 page)

SECRET

HEADQUARTERS

EIGHTH UNITED STATES ARMY

OFFICE OF THE PROVOST MARSHAL

17 August 1951

SUBJECT: Report of Investigation into Allegations Concerning Captain Philip S. Parker IV, 0-230471

TO: Judge Advocate General Eighth United States Army

1. Attached hereto are interviews conducted with various personnel by agents of the Criminal Investigation Division, OPM, Eighth Army, in connection with certain allegations concerning the conduct of subject officer.

2. These interviews are summarized as follows:
     a. CPL Francis F. YOUNG, RA 32777002, formerly assigned to Company “I,” 24th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division, was interviewed at the Tokyo Army Hospital where he is undergoing treatment for wounds. YOUNG stated that on or about 14 July 1950 near Sangju, Republic of Korea, during retrograde movement, he saw a “tank officer” shoot to death with a “six-shooter” LT Ralph J. ROPER, Commanding Officer of “I” Company. ROPER was then making his way to the rear. Troops then accompanying ROPER were returned to the line. It has been established that CAPTAIN PARKER (then 1LT) was in the vicinity at the time, and that he carries, as a personal weapon, a revolver believed to be a 1917 Model Colt .45 ACP. YOUNG, however, on being shown a photograph of PARKER, was not able, or was unwilling, to positively identify PARKER as the officer who shot ROPER to death.
     b. LT ROPER was initially carried on the rolls as Missing in Action and Presumed Dead. Attempts to locate his remains by Quartermaster Graves Registration Service following the breakout were only recently successful.
     c. 1LT Charles D. STEVENS, 0498666, Tank Company, 24th Infantry Regiment, was interviewed at Tokyo General Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment both for burn injuries received in combat and in the neuropsychiatric division, related the following: On 16 September 1950, shortly after he joined Tank Company, 24th Infantry Regiment, in the vicinity of Tonghae, Republic of Korea, he was serving as a crew member of an M4A3 tank. This was apparently part of an on-the-job training program instituted by PARKER in contravention of regulations. STEVENS was serving as a loader on a tank commanded by 1SGT Amos T. WOODROW, RA 36901989.
     Tank Company, 24th Infantry, PARKER commanding, had participated in an unsuccessful attack by the 24th Infantry against the enemy near Tonghae. After an initial penetration of enemy lines, heavy enemy mortar and artillery fire made it impossible for 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry, to cross a rice paddy and take up positions in support of Tank Company, then commanded by PARKER.
    PARKER was in radio communication with 2nd Battalion, and the interchange between them was audible to STEVENS over the tank intercom system. PARKER informed 2nd Battalion that he was in control of former enemy positions and would hold until such time as 2nd Battalion could make their way to him. STEVENS described PARKER'S judgment of the security of his position as unsound, stating that they were under severe artillery and mortar fire, and that it would be only a matter of time until all the tanks involved were destroyed. 2nd Battalion advised PARKER by radio to withdraw, stating that another attempt would be made following an artillery barrage.
     At this point, a tank commanded by SFC Richard M. OGLEBY (ASN unknown) was struck by enemy artillery fire which destroyed its right track and severed its radio antennae. The tank, however, remained operable, if immobile, and continued to engage the enemy. The damage to SFC OGLEBY'S tank was reported by WOODROW to PARKER by radio. PARKER then ordered WOODROW to leave his tank, make his way to the disabled tank, and order its crew to abandon the damaged vehicle. WOODROW complied with this order and STEVENS assumed command of that tank. In making his way to the damaged tank, WOODROW was struck and killed by mortar fire.
     STEVENS reported that WOODROW had been killed by radio to PARKER. PARKER then ordered STEVENS to move his tank, and to recover WOODROW'S body, and then to proceed to the damaged tank to evacuate its crew.
     STEVENS reported that, in his judgment, PARKER'S order was suicidal, and he requested reconsideration. PARKER repeated the order. At this time STEVENS overheard a radio message to PARKER ordering him to withdraw to the departure line. Presuming this order superseded PARKER'S order, STEVENS ordered the driver to back out of the position, and to withdraw as ordered. (The driver was SGT Quincy T. ARRANS, JR., RA 14375502, a newly assigned replacement.)
     STEVENS states that PARKER, observing this movement, went on the radio and said, “Hold in place, you yellow sonofabitch, or I'll blow you away,” or words to that effect. STEVENS attempted to relay this order to ARRANS, but, probably because of a defective intercom, ARRANS did not hear the order, and continued to move the tank.
     At this point, STEVENS'S tank was struck by what he believes to be a HEAT round fired by PARKER. It struck the right rear track, and fragments penetrated the engine compartment, severing fuel lines and setting the tank on fire. ARRANS successfully exited the burning tank, but was killed a few minutes later by mortar fire. STEVENS, in exiting the tank, suffered second and third degree burns over 25 percent of his body. He extinguished the flames on his clothing, and sought shelter in a ditch.
     At approximately this point, enemy artillery and mortar fire decreased to such a level that the Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion chose to mount a second assault, which was successful. STEVENS was located by medics of the 2nd BATTALION and evacuated, in a semiconscious condition, to the 8048th MASH.
     d. SGT Lowell G. DABNEY, RA 35189632, Tank Company, 24th Infantry Regiment, was interviewed at Tokyo General Hospital where he is undergoing treatment for wounds suffered in the same engagement. DABNEY was the gunner of the WOODROW-STEVENS tank. He had joined Tank Company as a Private after his unit, “I” Company, 224th, had been involved in the incident described in the YOUNG interview.
     (1) He stated that he heard PARKER order WOODROW to send STEVENS from the tank over to the disabled tank, and that STEVENS refused to comply with WOODROW'S order, whereupon WOODROW left the tank, leaving DABNEY in charge.
     (2) When WOODROW was hit, DABNEY state he left the tank to offer what aid he could.
     (3) That the moment he left the tank, it began to withdraw, and was a moment later struck by an enemy mortar in the engine compartment, which set it ablaze.
     e. Records of the 8112th Ordnance Company indicate the tank, which was recovered after this action, was struck with a HEAT round, probably of American manufacture.
     f. Attempt to garner further information from other personnel of the Tank Company, 24th Infantry Regiment, by agents of the CID have been generally unsuccessful. Apparently no other personnel heard the radio traffic referred to, or if they have knowledge of such traffic are unwilling to relate it. CAPTAIN PARKER has declined to answer questions of any sort, claiming the protection of the 31st Article of War.

LaRoyce J. Wilson
Colonel, Corps of Military Police
Provost Marshal

1st Ind

HQ EIGHT US ARMY 23 Aug 51

201-PARKER, Philip S (Capt) 0-230471

TO: Commanding General, IX US Corps

For appropriate action and reply by endorsement hereto.

FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL
Steven G. Galloway
Colonel, Judge Advocate General's Corps
The Judge Advocate General.

2nd Ind

HQ IX US CORPS 1 Sep 51

201-PARKER, Philip S (Capt) 0-230471

TO: Commanding General, Eight US Army

1. In consideration of subject officer's performance in Korea, which included a battlefield promotion to the grade of Captain, and the award of the Silver Star and Purple Heart Medals, he was offered the opportunity to resign from the service for the good of the service under the provisions of AR 615-365.

2. Subject officer has declined to submit his resignation.

3. A board of officers convened under the provisions of the 31st Article of War has considered the allegations made against subject officer, and has recommended that he be tried by General Court-Martial for murder and attempted murder.

4. This headquarters will try subject officer before a General Court-Martial and your headquarters will be advised of their decision.

FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL
Thomas C. Minor
Colonel, Adjutant General's Corps
G-1

SOMEWHERE IN NORTH KOREA Sept 7 (AP)—He was just one of the more than a hundred combat-weary GIs who slipped out of the trenches and sandbag bunkers of this battle-torn land to say good-bye to Georgia Paige as she left for home after entertaining the troops. Then the actress whose pictures adorn every foxhole here became just another American girl as she ran weeping into the arms of her GI, who was going to have to stay here and fight while she went off to what the GI's call the “land of the big PX.”

There were cheers and applause and more than a few teary eyes in battle-weary faces as the girl all the GIs dream of clung desperately to one of their own. Wayne Baxter, whose band was part of the Paige USO Troupe, finally had to separate the young lovers and put her on the plane. Georgia turned in the door of the Air Force transport for a final look at her GI, and then the door closed, and the GI vanished in the crowd before anyone could learn his name.