Frank Parker (general)
Encyclopedia
Frank Parker was a Major General
in the United States Army
.
, 1899-1900. He also served as an instructor at the USMA, 1900-03.
In 1904 he graduated from the Cavalry School in Saumur
, France
, and served as military attaché, Caracas
, Venezuela
, 1904–05, Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, 1905–06, and Cuba
in 1906-08. He was an instructor and organizer of cavalry in Cuba from 1909 to 1912.
In 1912 he attended the École Supérieure de Guerre, France. He was a member of the Cavalry Board from 1913 to 1914 and then returned to the École Supérieure de Guerre, 1914-15. He was an observer with French armies in field, 1916–17, and then served as chief of American Military Mission at French General Headquarters.
, and was the commander 18th Infantry and 1st Infantry Brigade and then was appointed commander, 1st Division, A.E.F., in October 1918.
stopped all promotions of general officers. In 1920 he graduated from the École Supérieure de Guerre, France and remained there as a professor while a student at the Centre des Hautes Études, 1920-21. Then he graduated and instructed at the Command and Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, 1922, graduate and instructor, Army War College, 1923-24. From 1925-27 he commanded a brigade of the 1st Division.
In 1927, he received his LL.D. from the University of South Carolina
. He was Assistant Chief of Staff 1927-29, and commander of the 6th Corps Area. He was promoted to major general in 1929, and from 1932-33 he headed the Philippine Department
.
In 1933 he received a degree in Agriculture and Applied Science from Michigan State College. From 1933 to 1935 he commanded the 1st Division. In February 1936 he took command of the 8th Corps Area and commanded the Third Army from March to September 1936.
His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal
, 2 silver star
citations, and numerous foreign decorations and civilian accolades.
Association of Graduates, U.S.M.A. Register of Graduates, U.S.M.A. Cullum no. 3592.
Parker, Frank CPT 15 US CAV. French School of Application for Cavalry at Saumur. Cavalry Journal 15:Apr 1905. p. 823-38.
Officers' Endurance Ride. Cavalry Journal 26:Jul 1915, 26-30.
CPT 11 CAV. Provisional Cavalry Drill Regulations. Cavalry Journal 24:Jul 1913. p. 182.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Early life
Frank Parker was born September 21, 1872 in Georgetown County, South Carolina. He attended the U.S. Military Academy and graduated in 1894, after which he served in the Spanish American War in 1898 and Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, 1899-1900. He also served as an instructor at the USMA, 1900-03.
In 1904 he graduated from the Cavalry School in Saumur
Saumur
Saumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and served as military attaché, Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, 1904–05, Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, 1905–06, and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in 1906-08. He was an instructor and organizer of cavalry in Cuba from 1909 to 1912.
In 1912 he attended the École Supérieure de Guerre, France. He was a member of the Cavalry Board from 1913 to 1914 and then returned to the École Supérieure de Guerre, 1914-15. He was an observer with French armies in field, 1916–17, and then served as chief of American Military Mission at French General Headquarters.
World War I
In World War I, he was promoted to brigadier generalBrigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
, and was the commander 18th Infantry and 1st Infantry Brigade and then was appointed commander, 1st Division, A.E.F., in October 1918.
Post World War I
He was recommended for promotion to major general by General Pershing, but the ArmisticeArmistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
stopped all promotions of general officers. In 1920 he graduated from the École Supérieure de Guerre, France and remained there as a professor while a student at the Centre des Hautes Études, 1920-21. Then he graduated and instructed at the Command and Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, 1922, graduate and instructor, Army War College, 1923-24. From 1925-27 he commanded a brigade of the 1st Division.
In 1927, he received his LL.D. from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. He was Assistant Chief of Staff 1927-29, and commander of the 6th Corps Area. He was promoted to major general in 1929, and from 1932-33 he headed the Philippine Department
Philippine Department
The Philippine Department was a regular US Army unit, defeated in the Philippines, during World War II. The mission of the Philippine Department was to defend the Philippine Islands and train the Philippine Army...
.
In 1933 he received a degree in Agriculture and Applied Science from Michigan State College. From 1933 to 1935 he commanded the 1st Division. In February 1936 he took command of the 8th Corps Area and commanded the Third Army from March to September 1936.
Post Retirement
After his retirement on September 30, 1936, Major General Parker made his home in Chicago, served as the Executive Director of the Illinois War Council during World War II, and died March 13, 1947.His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, 2 silver star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
citations, and numerous foreign decorations and civilian accolades.
Association of Graduates, U.S.M.A. Register of Graduates, U.S.M.A. Cullum no. 3592.
Parker, Frank CPT 15 US CAV. French School of Application for Cavalry at Saumur. Cavalry Journal 15:Apr 1905. p. 823-38.
Officers' Endurance Ride. Cavalry Journal 26:Jul 1915, 26-30.
CPT 11 CAV. Provisional Cavalry Drill Regulations. Cavalry Journal 24:Jul 1913. p. 182.