Thomas F. Parks III

Vets for Freedom National Hero 

“He is a great leader, and he is someone you can stand behind on every decision he makes.”
That is how one of the men who served with Thomas Parks in the Marines describes him.

Others share that opinion, and that is one of several factors that earned Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Parks the Silver Star—the nation’s third-highest combat award for heroism—for his efforts during the march to Baghdad.

Parks was credited with single-handedly destroying an enemy T-55 tank, and then taking out a sniper and two other enemy fighters during an ambush on April 3, 2003. One of the men Parks served with in Iraq also recounted, “He went out into harm’s way to help out injured Iraqi civilians. That speaks volumes about this man.”

His 20-year Marine career began on Parris Island, SC, on Sept. 26, 1985. The son of a Marine, Parks spent his entire career in the Infantry and saw combat in Panama (1988,) Kuwait (1991,) Somalia (1992,) Afghanistan (2001,) and Iraq (2003, 2004.) In 2000, he was part of the rescue effort following the explosion of the US.S. Cole, while in port at Yemen. He was also named Marine Corps Drill Instructor of the Year in 1998.

Parks dedicated his Silver Star to his colleagues in the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines who are still in Iraq. He also credits his wife—Chief Warrant Officer Christine Glynn—and their four children with his success.

Today, Parks resides with his family in Kansas City, Missouri.