Photo of Robert L. Parks in uniform

Grave of Robert Parks

Normandy American cemetery where Robert Parks was permanently laid to rest

Robert Llewellyn Parks, Private First Class

Died 22nd of July 1944

Received a purple heart for dying in action while serving the U.S.  A purple heart is only received when a soldier gets injured or dies in the line of duty.

Robert L. Parks was laid to rest in the Normandy American Cemetery, grave 34, row 21, plot G  in Basse-Normandie, France.  After, being disinterred from The U.S Military Cemetery, block M, row 3, grave 59, in Sainte. Mere Eglise on May 10th, 1948 at the request of his widow, Mary M. Parks.  The Normandy American Cemetery covers 172.5 acres and contains 9,387 graves of solders, most of whom lost their lives along with Robert Parks in the D-Day invasion.  The cemetery also contains 1,557 names of missing soldiers who remains have never been found.   In 2007, the 30 million dollar Normandy Visitors Center dedicated by the American Battle Monuments Commission, opened.  The Cemetery receives around 1 million visitors a year.

Student Eulogy

Born in 1921, Robert L. Parks grew up to be a hero who sacrificed his life and future for people he would never get to meet.  Robert grew up moving all around Pennsylvania, being born in Shippensburg moving to Carlisle, Sharpsburg, but eventually making his way back to Shippensburg.  Just as any other child he grew up and went to school, eventually graduating Shippensburg High School, and working as stockboy. Though his future was cut horribly short, at 23 he was able to experience love, marrying Mary Magdalene McCord on August 1st, 1942, later moving from his job to work as a tailor before being drafted off to war.  He become a part of the 330th Infantry, 83rd division, going off to Europe in April of 1944.  One of his first engagements happened to be the blood bath that was the D-Day invasion.  Unfortunately, in said invasion, Robert was badly injured, dying of his wounds on July 22nd, 1944.  He was survived by his wife, three sisters, and mother.  Robert L. Parks was truly a forgotten hero, a young man who went through unbearable conditions to help give freedom to people all across the world.  Though I never got to meet him in person, I am truly honored to have the opportunity to study and give honor to his life through this website.  His name will not be forgotten and neither will his service or sacrifice.