VF-102 USS AMERICA (CV-66)

Database page for Charles C. Parish, LCDR, USN

Fighter Squadron 102, the Diamondbacks, deployed aboard USS AMERICA (CV-66) as a part of Carrier Air Wing SIX. The ship departed Norfolk, Virginia, in April 1968 for its first Viet Nam cruise. AMERICA began combat operations immediately upon her arrival on Yankee Station in mid-June. The Air Wing's first combat loss, on June 16th, was CDR Walter Wilber (VF-102's CO) and LTJG Bernard Rupinski. A month later, on 25 July, VF-102 suffered another loss when the F-4J flown by LT Charles Parish and LT Robert Fant was hit while on a bombing mission over North Vietnam. LT Fant ejected, was captured immediately, and spent the next 5 years as a POW. He returned in "Operation Homecoming" in 1973. LT Parish's fate is unknown. There was no indication that he escaped from the damaged aircraft, nor did the North Vietnamese identify him as captured or killed. Charles Parish simply disappeared. He was carried as Missing in Action until April 1973, when his status was changed to "Died while Missing". Thirtytwo years later, on the anniversary of his death, Charles Carroll Parish is remembered by his shipmates. Ken Davis A-6 Aircrewman, Attack Squadron 85 USS AMERICA

A memorial from Ken Davis CDR, USN (Ret) 25 July 2000

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