Hospital Corpsman First Class Thomas Aquinas Parker, USN, was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. On April 5, 1967, Petty Officer Parker was assigned to a medical evacuation helicopter supporting OPERATION DE SOTO in the vicinity of Nui Dang, Republic of Vietnam. The helicopter in which he was riding was in a hover over a landing zone when it was hit by enemy fire and exploded. Petty Officer Parker died of his wounds sustained in the explosion but due to heavy enemy fire his body was not recovered.

Petty Officer Parker was listed as Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered.

Petty Officer Parker was born December 31, 1937 in Huntington, Indiana, and listed Oxford, Indiana, as his Home of Record.