USS PARLE DE-708
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Plank Owners, 1944
My Dad, Lt. Cmdr Spencer Hinckley (44-47), served on the Parle in WWII and is one of the plank owners. I just wanted to thank you for the page of information on the Parle, it made my Dad glad to see the old girl.He was a little bummed about how she was sunk as a target though. He said she deserved better.
WW2 Pacific, 1945-46
My wife's father served aboard the Parle during WW II. Unfortunately, he died about 14 years ago, so I never had the opportunity to meet the gentleman. However, being interested in military history, especially WWII, I have been real curious what his job was aboard ship. His name was Harold Leon Williamson. He was recalled back to active duty for Korea and served aboard the USS Bisbee. If you remember him and have any information about him, my wife and I would greatly appreciate knowing more about him.Thank you, SFC John S.Armstrong, USAR (RET) E-mail :
Late 40's
My father, George Gilkenson, Sr. served on Parle sometime in the late 40's. He was a Hosp. Corpsman. I followed his example in 1971, enlisted and served on USS Howard W. Gilmore AS-16, 1972-74. Anyone out there who knew my father please drop a line.. gilkenson@sbcglobal.net.. E-mail :Sonar School 1951-58
From : .Seaman L. E. Roberts served onboard 1951 through 1953 (known as Robey).
| My home address is : | 106 Haughton Avenue |
| Hueytown, AL. 35023 | |
| (205) 491-7411 |
From :
I was wondering if there was any information that you could send me about my grandfather Lyle Richardson who served on the Parle during the Korean War. Please contact me via E-Mail above.
Thank you for your time.
From : NED M.
I was on Parle from June '58 to June '60, as a fresh caught Ensign. I recall our skipper was named Rooney and the XO was Bill Fletcher. Jim Seawright was engineer officer. Do you recall any of these names? Thanks,
From : Jim,
I sure remember Billy Fletcher, Annapolis. We all thought he was the son of Admiral Frank Fletcher. But I now live in Frank's hometown and the WW2Pacific web page was started as a tribute to him. He may have won the war (really), but never had any children. We also heard the story that a kamikaze went into the Ward Room. That wasn't true either, tho Parle was in that area.
The skipper was an older LCDR, not regular navy. We had two Ensigns that hung around together, one had a degree in physics, and they had girl friends during visitor day that were a pleasure watch trying to climb the ladder by CIC to the bridge. That was all too long ago to remember other names, tho the images remain.
i remember us putting into NYC in the fog for an emergency where we were not supposed to use radar because it interfered with TV reception in the city, but we did anyway, and glad of it, for when the fog lifted we found ourselves among dozens of ships. And who can forget "Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooly" being played hourly over the ship's speakers while docked at Little Creek. And the smell of diesel during fuelings. Memory is a strange thing. And Parle made some memories. Glad to hear from you.
From : NED
Thanks for interesting reply, Jim. I have a degree in physics from Georgia Tech, so I might be the fellow you recall. Bill Fletcher's father was an admiral, but perhaps not a famous one. He (the father) retired as a captain, but then got a "tombstone promotion" to RADM -- no more pay or benefits, but the title only. Congress has subsequently outlawed that. You're right about no kamikaze in the wardroom. I don't recall that Parle ever had any battle stars. Were Bill Condon or Perkins skippers you recall?
Okay, Ensign, I remember you. You were too nice of a guy to be an officer. And you encouraged me to go to Penn State. I did.
Training Ship, 1959-61
From : BOB "Sherm" LEONARDI served on her in 1958-59, also. If you are still here, I am ET Bob Leonard. I remember J. Bauer.
I have a couple of photos that might be of interest : Pics
Later, Bob Sherman Leonard
From : JIM
You betcha I served on the Parle. Worked in CIC as radarman. This was during Castro's takeover of Cuba beginning of 1959. We watched TV on the mess decks wondering if it was good or bad? Parle then was homeported at Little Creek, VA, round the point from Norfolk. We were taking reservists on two week cruises to ports in Purto Rico, Miami, Boston.
From :
I served in PARLE on my reserve cruise in 59 or 60. All I can recall is that the ship's crew was very proud of the ship. I recall going to Provincetown, Mass, that cruise. I am trying to locate crewmen from that era that might have some nice photos of the old ship. I understand she met her fate as a target ship. My regular duty ship was the USS RICH DDE-820, A GEARING class can and it also met the same fate after being run over by a tanker in '77. I now belong to Tincan Sailors to try to save some of the older ships for future generations to see. Please let me know if you can help
from : DOUG , QM2 1960-1964
I served on the USS Rhodes DER-384 during 1960 as a Quartermaster. I saw your page and picture of your ship. It caught my eye since both ships are the same except mine had built up sides and a new radar system that made us top heavy for duty over the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic close to Russia. One storm destroyed everything topside, including the gunmount and Pilot House. We were home ported in Greenock, Scotland. There were many times when everyone thought the ship would capsize. I'm glad I didn't know about the destroyers that did just that during storms in WWII.
Great Lakes, 1962-70
From :Bob Rice searching for Kenneth Niles -- served 1964-1966
From :
I served aboard her 67-69 Chicago,,, after Vietnam ; What duty !!!!
From : KELLY
I served on the Parle in her last two years before it was decommissioned. It was in Chicago then tied up downtown next to the Chicago yacht club. It was tough duty (not!). We were doing the reserve thing there as well, only going to exotic places like Green Bay and Milwaukee. It was great duty and have good memories of my time on the Parle.
From: LARRY
I served on the Parle in 1968 and 1970 when we took her to Norfork. I was one of the last to leave I was at first a 3rd class boilerman when we had our little boiler fire and was one of the first to help fight the fire before the LT cut off the foam and we only had water to fight the fire. If you remember the Bears Flag, I was the lucky one to be given the flag because no one else seemed to want it -- I think it is also a piece of history for the Parle and Chicago. I loved that tour-of-duty and had some great times. When I left the Parle I had mailed the flag to my parents home in WVa for safe keeping and then when I had gotten out could not locate it for 40 years and when my mom passed away 2 months ago I had meet up with my ex-sister-in-law and she had the flag thinking it was my brothers. She mailed it back to me, just thought you would like to hear that. When I left the ship I was SS3 barber, and had the laundry and ran the ship store. I still have the cig. lighters. HA HA
See : Tin Can Sailors : Shipmate Registry, USS Parle
| Ship or Organization | Hull Number | Start Date | Proposed? | Location | Contact Person | Contact | Phone | E-Mail or Fax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USS PARLE | DE-708 | September 2007 | Nashville TN | Bob Rice | Box 147, Pembroke MA 02359 | (781) 293-5613 | ||
| USS PARLE | DE-708 | 9/21/2006 | Chicago, IL | Bob Rice | Box 147, Pembroke MA 02359 | (781) 293-5813 | ||
| USS PARLE | DE-708 | 3/4/2005 | Jacksonville FL | Chet Hancock | 409 Crescent Pond Drive, Jacksonville FL 32259 | (904) 287-5621 |
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About this Page: DE708 Crew. Comments by the crew of USS Parle.
I served aboard her as radarman, Nov 1958 - Sept 1959. Last updated on April 7, 2010.
Comments to : URL : www.ww2pacific.com/de708crew.html