Charles "Chick" Parsons
| Charles Thomas Parsons, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nickname(s) | Chick |
| Born |
April 22, 1902 Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States |
| Died | May 12, 1988 (aged 86) Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/ |
United States Naval Reserve |
| Years of service | 1929-Unknown |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant Commander
|
| Campaign Participation |
World War II *Philippine Islands operation *Leyte operation *Luzon operation *Manila Bay-Bicol operations *Escort, antisubmarine, armed guard and special operations |
| Awards |
 
 Distinguished Service Cross Bronze Star Medal Philippine Medal of Valor Philippine Legion of Honor Order of St. Sylvester
|
| Other work |
Merchant mariner Civil Servant Businessman Panamanian Consul general |
Charles Thomas "Chick" Parsons, Jr. (April 22, 1902 – May 12, 1988) was a businessman, diplomat, and decorated World War II veteran. He was born April 22, 1902, in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Parsons died in May 1988, survived by his four sons, Michael, Peter, Patrick and Jose.
Parsons was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee, moved frequently, and spent part of his youth (beginning at the age of 5) in Manila, before returning back to Tennessee. Charles Parsons' interest in the Philippines occurred because two of his uncles had gone there to seek their fortune. Their letters home ignited Charles' imagination and sense of adventure. As a result, he took courses in shorthand and Spanish while in school in Chattanooga. He graduated from Chattanooga High School. After graduating from school, he held a job as a court reporter for a year or two. Then in 1921, at the age of 19, he arrived in Manila after working across the Pacific as a crewman on a freighter. His knowledge of shorthand and Spanish allowed him to qualify as secretary to U.S. Governor-General Leonard Wood. For three years, Parsons traveled throughout the Philippines with Wood and got to know the Filipino people, learning their language and customs, as well as picking up knowledge of Philippine geography. All this would serve him well when he later went into business for himself and served as a U.S. naval officer during the war years.
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