REMEMBERING
MAURICE WALTER PARKER

By Joe C. Fling

Maurice Walter Parker was another casualty of World War II who met his end by means called "accidental." Parker was born November 13, 1903. When he died, sixty years ago, this month, he was the oldest man from Eagle Lake to die in World War II and one of the oldest three from the whole of Colorado County. At his age he may not have had to go to war. Parker enlisted, and died in the line of duty defending his country.

Parker was the son of George Walter Parker (1872-1940) and Georgia Tate Parker (1871-1948), and lived his early childhood and youth in Eagle Lake. He graduated from Eagle Lake High School in 1923 and married Frances Cabaniss of Eagle Lake February 28, 1931. He moved from Eagle Lake about that time and resided in Houston for about 12 years, where he held a position with Humble Oil at the time the war broke out.

Maurice enlisted in the service of his country on November 14, 1942 and trained for a time at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. He served in an Engineer Petroleum Unit. Whether this was a unit involved in the production of petroleum or the supply of fuels and oil to Allied ships is unknown. It also would seem likely that Parker's age and work experience with Humble Oil may have dictated his service in a non-combatant, supply unit. In addition, at the time of his death, Parker held the rank of Tech. Sergeant. Meaning that he had some supervisory authority.

Parker wrote to his wife in Houston and other members of his family on February 2, 1943 that he was departing from New York for an unannounced destination. The next news that the family heard of Maurice was the notice of his death. The notice came to his wife Frances, in Houston, in the form of a War Department telegram, on a Saturday, eight days after his February 12, 1943 death. The notice said only that Parker "was accidentally killed in North American area, date and circumstances unreported. Letter follows."

Parker's death was one of so many that happened so quickly after a man shipped out from stateside that the shock must have been beyond human comfort. Here was a married man of mature age, who volunteered his services to his country and died within three months of enlistment. In this age of instant messaging and electronic news coverage, it is hard to comprehend the agony and pain of waiting for news. Loved ones gathered at the home of Mrs. G.W. Parker and grieved over a loss, the details of which could only be imagined.

About a month later, on March 12, Frances Parker received additional information which specified the date of death and the place of burial of Tech. Sgt. Parker, which was at Fort Bello, on the island of Bermuda.

Parker was survived by his wife, mother, a twin sister, Mrs. O.A. Bunge, and three brothers, Noel, Tate and Percy Parker. Unlike John Westmoreland who was returned from Ohio for immediate burial in Eagle Lake after his death, Parker remained interred in Bermuda for the duration of the war.

During this time, a memorial stone was erected in the Eagle Lake Masonic Cemetery which reads in part: "in memory of Tech Sgt. Maurice W. Parker, killed in the line of duty, buried at Fort Bello, Bermuda."

To the uninformed observer, this would appear to be like the cases of William R. Cook and Gerald Shirley (also in the Eagle Lake Masonic) a case of a memorial stone only in memory of one lost at sea, or buried overseas. For Maurice Parker this is not the case. Although the stone does not tell us this, when you look at this gravestone, know that Parker's remains were relocated and interred at this spot on December 9, 1947. The Eagle Lake Headlight wrote "May He who doeth all things well be near to comfort and bless all in their hour of sorrow is the prayer of numerous friends."