World War II Veteran
Harry Parkington
1922 - 2012

Interviewed by:
Christian Keene and Michael Messersmith

"War is Hell. It should never be."
~ Harry Parkington (25:39)

Harry Parkington's Story

Harry Parkington is an extraordinary man. Without a doubt, his role during World War II was imperative to the success of the Allies' raid on Nazi controlled Europe. However, that's not where Harry's story starts. Harry Parkington was born a British subject on August 26, 1922 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. Harry's father was a World War I veteran making war a part of his heritage. At age seven Harry moved with his family to New York where he lived with his aunt for a few years and later moved to a town called New Canaan, Connecticut. Here, Harry's father got a job as a gardener for an estate and his family settled down in a nice home. Sortly there after, the world as he'd known it erupted into fierce conflict for the second time. As a British subject, Harry was given a choice between joining the Canadian Military or the United States Military after being drafted. He chose to proudly take up his new country's colors and was sent into the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It was here where Harry joined an elite team of men trained in explosive ordinance and joined the fight in the invasion of Europe. Harry and his crew played a major role in the movement of the infantry, for wherever the infantry went, the Corps of Engineers lead the way. Their job in the service was to disable mines set by the Germans and, more than often, take part in armed warfare. Harry ended his campaign on the borders of what was then Czechoslovakia, having taken Berlin and ending the war. Harry had seen the length of the American invasion of Europe including the battles and campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. He then decided to continue his service and join the Pacific Theater of the war, however while on a ship there, he received word that nuclear arms had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and that the war was over. Harry ended up being on one of the first ships back to Boston. He now lives in Wellfleet, MA; a married man with memories of a war so terrible that he now takes a solid stand for pacifism. Without a doubt Harry Parkington is a man of extreme nobleness, intelligence, and experience beyond what any one man could ever hope to achieve.

On the campaign towards Germany the United States Army came across the Rhine River in France. The task of then building a bridge across it was left to the Corps of Engineers, including Harry Parkington. Below can be seen General Patton on the bridge the Engineers built. Harry can be seen over the left shoulder of Patton with his hands on his hips looking to the side. The two men conversed together shortly after this picture was taken exchanging jokes about their experiences with the Rhine.