2 Oct 2004 David A. Parker was a native of San Angelo, Texas. He was a 1961 graduate of San Angelo Central High School. He joined the Army shortly after graduation. He trained in infantry and was Ranger qualified. He started his tour in Vietnam on November 14, 1966. He was originally assigned to E Company (LRP), 20th Infantry, 1st Field Force. This unit did long range reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition and special missions in 4-6 man teams. In addition, the company had the capacity to operate as a platoon size force and conduct regular recon-in-force as platoon size forces. SSG Parker did additional training at the MACV Recondo School in Vietnam and during the extension of his tour in Vietnam, he was assigned to A-361, 5th Special Forces. He was killed by small arms fire on April 6, 1968 while on a mission. SSG Parker was buried with full military honors at the Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. He is remembered by his community at the Tom Green Area County Vietnam Memorial in San Angelo and by the Permian Basin Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Midland, Texas. 25 Jun 2006 David Allen Parker of San Angelo has been listed as being a Ranger and a member of E Company (LRP), 20th Infantry. From research and after contacting the Ranger Association, it was determined that information was incorrect and that information most likely applied to another David Parker, most likely David Lloyd Parker. From research and contact with a former member of the 5th Special Forces, John Marshall of Lake City, Minnesota, knew David Allen Parker and indicates that SSG Parker was a Special Forces Medic and had been a member of a C Team until he volunteered for A Team Duty, as a medic with a Mike Force Unit. He was killed when his 8 man team were forced to split up during contact on April 6, 1968. The unit had been conducting surveillance on a small roadway believed to be used by the NVA as an artery for supplies into the Saigon area. SSG Parker was found the following day, dead from gunshot wounds. He was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. From a PBVVM representative, Billy M. Brown 4015 Melody Lane, Odessa, Texas 79762 bmbrown@grandecom.net From The Virtual Wall: Sergeant David Wayne Parker, assigned to E Company, 20th Infantry, the 173rd Airborne Brigade's long-range recon unit, died in an accidental drowning on 06 Feb 1969. His body was not recovered. SP4 David Lloyd Parker, assigned to D Co, 1st Bn, 50th Infantry, died of wounds on 31 Jan 1968.

 

Notes from The Virtual Wall While the casualty data base gives Staff Sergeant Parker's occupational speciality as "19D45" (Cavalry Recon), an individual who served with him says that wasn't so ... that SSG Parker was a combat medic. The Special Forces Association concurs with that statement, listing him as a "91B4S" - a Special Forces qualified medical NCO. The SFA also indicates that SSG Parker was killed in action while on a RAPID FIRE reconnaissance mission about 18 km northeast of Song Be. SSG Parker started his Vietnam tour on 14 November 1966 and had been in-country for just under 17 months when he was killed. In addition to being remembered by the SFA and the PBVVM, he is remembered by his classmates on the San Angelo Central High School Vietnam memorial. Visit John Dennison's Medics on the Wall memorial which honors the Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam.

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