Jon Tester: “today I would like to honor the life and service of a distinguished Montanan and one of Montana's five World War II…”

“today I would like to honor the life and service of a distinguished Montanan and one of Montana's five World War II Medal of Honor recipients: Technician Fourth Grade Laverne Parrish. Laverne and his family moved to the Mission Valley of Montana in 1934, and he graduated from Ronan High School in 1937. Never one to shy away from service or sacrifice, Laverne joined the Washington Army National Guard in the March of 1941, just months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as a medical aidman in Company C of the 161st Infantry Regiment where he achieved the rank of technician fourth grade, the noncommissioned officer equivalent of sergeant. In August of 1942, his Army National Guard unit was activated and deployed to Hawaii for training. Soon after, his unit was mobilized and deployed to the Pacific Theater with the 25th Infantry Division. Known as ``Tropic Lightning'' for specializing in jungle warfare, his division saw combat in five different military campaigns, moving from Guadalcanal, to the Northern Solomon Islands, and eventually joining General MacArthur's campaign to recapture the Philippines. In January of 1945, his division landed on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. During heavy fighting in Binalonan, Laverne risked his life rushing onto the battlefield to bring in his wounded brother in arms to safety. While treating casualties, he noticed two wounded soldiers from his company still in the field.…”