Gilbert N. Parkinson

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Gilbert N. Parkinson (0-2055042), First Lieutenant (Signal Corps), [then Second Lieutenant], U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 3d Signal Company, 3d Infantry Division. On 18 November 1944 at St. Remy, France, First Lieutenant Parkinson laid his telephone lines in advance of the infantry to the proposed bridge site on the Meurthe River. Knowing the proximity of the enemy, he ordered his wire team to remain with the vehicle while he walked and crawled the last two hundred yards to the River and left the line in readiness for the crossing. The following night he went to the River with the assault troops and pulled the line across the River. Although the line was the center of an impact area, First Lieutenant Parkinson constantly patrolled it despite intense mortar and artillery fire. When the bridge washed out he immediately jumped into the icy waters and remained there for approximately thirty minutes in order to make the necessary repairs on the line.