Pinned at San Fortunato Ridge
Heroes Remember
Pinned at San Fortunato Ridge
Transcript
Description
Mr.Parker talks about how a friend found his sense of faith at the San Fortunato Ridge during a 21 hour barrage.
Richard Allen Parker
Richard Allen Parker was born in Vernon, BC on May 27, 1917 to a First Nations family. He talks about his early years, the prejudice that he faced, and the meaning of being First Nations. He left home at an early age to work in the mines. He talks about joining the PPCLI in 1942, fighting the SS and Hitler Youth and his time in Algiers and Italy.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 02:11
- Person Interviewed:
- Richard Allen Parker
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Italy
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)
Related Videos
Enlisted in 1942
Mr. Parker talks about joining his father's old regiment, the PPCLI instead of the Air Force (his first choice), and why he joined when he did.
Off to Algiers
By March of 1943, Mr. Parker is in England on active service. He is listed as a labourer, which he feels does not represent the range of skills that he has developed. He ships out to North Africa (Algiers), where dysentry sets in.
A visit to the infirmary
Mr. Parker becomes so ill with dysentery (along with, but later than, everyone else) that he is hospitalized, and misses the regiment's move into Sicily. He doesn't catch up with them until Italy. They then start working up the line in Italy.
A soldier dies in his arms
Mr. Parker tells a story of moving up the line in Italy at night, and having to try and help a wounded man in the dark.
Fear sets in
Mr. Parker talks about how a man's death haunted him as they moved into position on their start line. He then talks about a corporal who came to him for reassurance.
Wounded In Action
Mr. Parker concludes his story about the Marksman being torpedoed with her eventual demise. He also talks about close friendships that developed on the ship.
Saving a family
Mr. Parker talks about moving down the line and helping an Italian family, who had lost all their possessions to the Germans, and had their house blown up by the Canadians.
Dedication to Duty
Mr Parker talks about a soldier in his platoon who literally lacked a sense of fear. His fearlessness was unexplainable, and he died in a most unusual way.
Discipline plays a role in dedication to duty
Mr. Parker talks about bravery and duty, and how duty is so drilled into you as a new recruit that it can make you do dangerous things, unless mitigated with a sense of discretion.
Responsibility and luck
Mr. Parker talks about having a guardian angel, and how he felt that sense of belief helped him through. The platoon came to have a similar sense of faith in him because of his ability to survive. They followed him as their guardian angel.
Absolute respect
Mr. Parker continues to talk about his good fortune and his great sense of faith.
Survival at San Fortunato Ridge
Mr. Parker talks about Tommy Prince's brother, who was in his platoon, and how an officer created havoc for them at the San Fortunato Ridge.
Insubordination at San Fortunato Ridge
Mr. Parker talks about battle stress, being put on charge by the officer in question, and his platoon walking into an ambush at the San Fortunato Ridge.
Taking of Coriano Ridge
Mr. Parker finishes the story of the ill-fated command of the officer, who led them into an ambush on their way to the Corriano Ridge, and the impact it had on his men, and the men who had first been caught there.
Camaraderie
Mr. Parker talks about how he felt they were able to keep going, and the kinds of things they did after a battle to try and let loose some of the pent-up tension.
Fighting on in Northwest Europe
Mr. Parker talks about why Italy was so much harder a campaign (for him) than North West Europe, and the respect he had for some of the German fighting regiments.
Hitler Youth
Mr. Parker talks about running into the SS and Hitler Youth in NW Europe, and how tenacious they could be.
Leadership
Mr. Parker talks about what he thought of the Canadian troops, and meeting General Chris Vokes. He also makes off with a girl in a town for the weekend.
Punishment
Mr. Parker returns to base, and is arrested. He is brought up on charges in front of General Vokes.
Punishment for AWOL
Vokes strips him down to buck private and sends him back to the ranks, but he also adds a twist to the punishment.
Close call on tank patrol
Mr. Parker talks with admiration of a Lieutenant Cutville, and a recce they went on in a tank, where they were hit by an armour-piercing shell (but escaped unscathed).
When the war ended
Mr. Parker talks about being in NW Europe when the war ended and enemy officers coming blindfolded through their line and then leaving again a short time later without blindfolds. This told him the end was finally here. He was sent to England for some repatriation duties, and then returned to New York in February 1946.
After the War
Mr. Parker talks about readjusting to civilian life, and the advantages of the military structured life.
Todays children
Mr. Parker talks about today's media and its impact on children.
Mr. Parker talks about physical and mental pain.
Mr. Parker talks about what he feels are important lessons to be learned from surviving an extreme situation such as battle.
Suffering and lessons learned
Mr. Parker states that suffering is a part of life and relates this to the animal world.
Discipline
Mr. Parker speaks of discipline in the world today including the animal world.
The Elderly
Mr. Parker talks about the differences between the younger and older Native generations today.
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