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Proclamation commending and honoring the selfless actions displayed by Henry Parham on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
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WHEREAS, on June 6, 1944, 75 years ago, Henry Parham was among the more than 130,000 American and Allied troops that stormed the beaches of Normandy and France on a mission to take back Europe from control of Nazi Germany; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Parham was in the third wave of largest amphibious assault in the history of war and spared the worst of the horror the first wave endured; and
WHEREAS, for over two months Mr. Parham was located on Omaha Beach with the 320th Antiaircraft Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only black combat unit to serve at Normandy; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Parham, of Wilkinsburg, was 21 years old and working for a bus company in Richmond, Virginia when he was drafted into the Army in 1942. He trained in Tennessee with the 320th and shipped out to England in 1943 for more training; and
WHEREAS, D-Day was the first combat experience for Mr. Parham; and
WHEREAS, with the 320th, Mr. Parham’s job was to use helium-filled barrage balloons to defend the beach from attack by German planes; and
WHEREAS, after 68 days on the beach, Mr. Parham’s unit moved on to Sherburne, where it protected General George Patton’s Third Army. After Germany’s surrender, Mr. Parham and the 320th were reassigned and began training in Georgia for the duty in the Pacific. Mr. Parham was supposed to go to Okinawa; however, his ship broke down and he never left Hawaii. Shortly after Japan surrendered, Mr. Parham was able to return to Richmond, and eventually made Pittsburgh his home in 1949; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Parham’s bravery and dedication to his country displayed 75 years ago has resulted in him being awarded several due honors: “Chevalier” of the Legion of Honor, the Legion of Honor is the highest decoration in France and Chevalier is the highest degree of five that can be awarded; Asiatic-Pa...
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