Home at Last by Jim Potter Robert Parks was honorably discharged from the US Navy in 1919 just in time to enjoy Christmas with his parents, Henry and Lydia Parks, living in McPherson County, Kansas. Fighting in the World War was over for more than a year when Robert was discharged. His extended service time was due to the monumental operation of clearing tens of thousands of mines in the North Sea between Scotland and Norway, while assigned to the USS Heron (AM-10), a minesweeper … [Read more...] about Researching Robert
World War
Researching Robert
Subchaser 265 by Jim Potter As mentioned previously, shortly after the United States entered the World War in 1917, Robert Parks joined the United States Navy. He trained as an electrician and radio operator at Great Lakes Training Center, Naval Training Center at Harvard University, and at New London. Beginning in July 1918, Parks was ready to use his skills on a submarine chaser (SC), intending to help destroy German submarines that were creating havoc at sea after Germany … [Read more...] about Researching Robert
Researching Robert
A Letter Home from New London by Jim Potter Thanks to a McPherson, Kansas, newspaper article published in June 1918, researchers can read a personal letter from Robert Parks. The correspondence gives the viewer an exceptional glimpse at a moment in Robert’s life while he was training in the United States Navy, at New London, Connecticut. Prior to Parks' arrival at the United States Receiving Barracks, State Pier, New London, he had already attained a rating of Electrician Third … [Read more...] about Researching Robert
