Bio: Parkhill, Oakley (Decorated for Bravery – 16 Jan 1919)

Contact: Ann Stevens
Email: ann@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Parkhill

----Source: Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 1/16/1919

Parkhill, Oakley (Decorated for Bravery – 16 Jan 1919)

The following is taken from the Colby Phonograph and refers to a young man well known in this city. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. George Parkhill of Abbotsford.

Readers of the Phonograph who recall the interesting letters written from Camp Douglas, Waco, Texas, and later from “overseas” which we published from the pen of Oakley L. Parkhill, will be pleased to learn that our former correspondent, who has been promoted to a 2nd Lieutenant, has been officially cited for extraordinary heroism in action in France on October 13th last. This information reaches the Phonograph from reliable sources, and we take great pleasure in bringing it to the attention of our many readers. Lieut. Parkhill received his commission the latter part of September last and was assigned to Co. E of the 91st Infantry, a part of the regular army, and was one of the regiments which took an important part in the Argonne-Meuse sector, at Hill 99, the Hessian woods and at Dun-Sur-Meuse immediately preceding the signing of the armistice.

For more than three weeks Lt. Parkhill was in full command of his company, his captain and the 1st Lieut. having been disabled from service by wounds received in service. Hill 299 was stubbornly contested for and was taken and re-taken a half dozen times and finally held by the American troops against some of the best troops of the enemy. During the fighting on this Hill a signal corps photographer succeeded in securing moving pictures of Lieut. Parkhill and his company in action under shell fire, and Colby people may some day have the pleasure of seeing this film at our local moving picture theater. In one of these engagements Lieut. Parkhill was slightly wounded by a piece of shrapnel, which, however, only resulted in a flesh would of the leg, not necessitating his going to a hospital.

For several weeks past he has been in Bourges, France, where an operation was performed upon him for piles resulting from a severe attack of dysentery, but he expects to be able to re-join his company which is now in Germany as a part of the Army of Occupation, being part of the 9th Battalion of the 5th Division. The Colby and Abbotsford boys who have seen service overseas have certainly given a good account of themselves and will surely be accorded a royal welcome when they return home.