The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*PARRISH, LAVERNE
Rank and Organization: Technician 4th Grade, U.S.
Army, Medical Detachment, 161st Infantry, 25th Infantry Division . Place and Date
Binalonan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 18-24 January 1945. Entered Service at:
Ronan, Mont. Birth: Knox City, Mont. G.O. No.: 55, 13 July 1945.
Citation:
He was medical aid man with Company C during the fighting in Binalonan, Luzon, Philippine
Islands. On the 18th, he observed 2 wounded men under enemy fire and immediately went to
their rescue. After moving 1 to cover, he crossed 25 yards of open ground to administer
aid to the second. In the early hours of the 24th, his company, crossing an open field
near San Manuel, encountered intense enemy fire and was ordered to withdraw to the cover
of a ditch. While treating the casualties, Technician Parrish observed 2 wounded still in
the field. Without hesitation he left the ditch, crawled forward under enemy fire, and in
2 successive trips brought both men to safety. He next administered aid to 12 casualties
in the same field, crossing and re-crossing the open area raked by hostile fire. Making
successive trips, he then brought 3 wounded in to cover. After treating nearly all of the
37 casualties suffered by his company, he was mortally wounded by mortar fire, and shortly
after was killed. The indomitable spirit, intrepidity, and gallantry of Technician Parrish
saved many lives at the cost of his own.
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