William C. Parr
Biography: William C. Parr “Bill” was born on April 22, 1924, in Wausaukee, Wisconsin. He was the son of Clarence Parr and Eliza Nyswonger and graduated from Pembine high school. He then worked on the family farm.
Service Time: Bill entered the service on March 9, 1943, at Milwaukee, He was sent for basic training and was later assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 671st Tank Destroyer battalion.
The unit had been activated on June 12, 1943, at Camp Hood, Texas and received training at a number of facilities, including Camps Hood and Swift, Texas, Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Lawton, Washington. It was during his training that Bill qualified as an Sharpshooter with the M1 Rifle and served in the supply section of the Company. The unit shipped from the Seattle port of embarkation on December 28, 1944, and arrived in Hawaii on January 5th, 1945. They were initially stationed at Kaiaka Bay Camp and then Aiea Camp Number One, which is opposite of Pearl Harbor.
Bill was a tall man, which gained him the nickname “Tree” while in the Army. His height was certainly an asset and gained him immediate respect with the other men. He recalled being asked to help with a discipline issue or two, figuring his stature would help bring a quick resolution to the problem. The 671st then shipped to the Philippines in July, preparing for the invasion of Japan. The bombing of Japan and their surrender would put the men into occupational duty which they maintained until returning to the U.S., and arriving at the Los Angeles port on January 16, 1946. Although the unit did not have credit for any campaigns, they had been thoroughly prepared for action.
Bill left the service on March 8, 1946, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, at the rank of Technician 5th Grade. He was awarded the American Theater Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Bill returned to Pembine and worked as a Deputy Sheriff for some period. Throughout the rest of his life he would fondly remember his time in that position. He later worked at the Kimberly Clark papermill, which would become the Pent Air papermill. He worked for the company for over 40 years and functioned as a screen tender, monitoring the wood pulp as it passed through screens to be pressed into paper. His job assured a quality product and minimized waste. Before his retirement, he worked in the factory’s control room.
On May 24, 1958, he had married the former Margaret Ruth Smolander, who was born in Goodman, WI, and was the daughter of William Smolander and Margaret Ruth Dixon. The couple would make their home in Pembine and have two sons and a daughter.
Bill was very active in the American Legion, where he served for over 50 years, holding positions as Post-Commander and Sergeant-at-Arms for numerous years. He also served on the board of the Presbyterian Church they attended. In his spare time, Bill enjoyed reading and dowsing for water, which involved using a forked stick to locate underground water.
Bill passed away on November 15, 2005, and was buried in the Pembine Cemetery in Pembine, Wisconsin. At the time of his death, he and Margaret had been married for 47 years. I want to thank Bill’s daughter, Ruth, for providing the information and photos for this tribute.
