Joseph Buford Parse Jr.

Korean War
Service #506396
Unit54 FITRON
RankLieutenant Junior Grade U.S. Navy
Date of DeathSeptember 8 1951
StatusMissing In Action
Memorialized
Courts of the Missing
Court
8
Air Medal
Combat Action Ribbon (Navy)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Purple Heart
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Junior Grade Parse was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 3 Gold Stars, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Notes
Lieutenant Junior Grade Parse was the pilot of an AD-4L Skyraider dive bomber with Fighter Squadron 54 aboard the carrier USS ESSEX (CV-9). On September 8, 1951, while on a bombing run, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire, burst into flames and crashed. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.