United States. A Purple Heart Medal to Sailor John J. Parker; Killed in Action onboard USS Colorado (BB-45)

(Instituted August 7th 1782 by George Washington). Of two-piece construction in the shape of a heart in bronze gilt and with purple, red, white, and green enamels, the obverse with a gilded leftward facing bust of George Washington affixed onto purple-coloured and heart-shaped enamels with the Coat of Arms of George Washington, consisting of a white enameled shield with two horizontally positioned red enameled bars and three horizontally positioned side-by-side red enameled five-pointed stars within a sprig of green enameled laurel leaves, the reverse consists of a raised bronze heart with the words “For Military Merit” in relief below the bronzen coat of arms, and engraved with “John J. Parker S1c USN” in capital letters below, on a fixed horizontal ball and squared oval loop suspension from its ribbon with a horizontal pinback assembly for suspension, measuring 35.3 mm (w) x 47.4 mm (l) including its pierced ball suspension, weighing 37.53 grams,inclusive of its ribbon and pinback suspension, accompanied by its presentation case, constructed of a lightweight wooden frame with a textured black faux leather exterior, the exterior of the lid embossed with “Purple Heart” in capital letters as well as dual borders of golden wavy “crinkle crankle” lines on the top of the lid. The sides of the case are adorned with golden embossed lines on the top and bottom of the lid, the interior of the lid is lined in cream-coloured off-white silk, with a functional hinge assembly and intact interior hinge cover, with a felted medal bed, measuring 80 mm (w) x 145 mm (l), accompanied by a ribbon bar and miniature boutonniere, in extremely fine condition. 

Footnote: John Junior Parker (November 16th, 1922 - July 24th, 1944) enlisted in the United States Navy on December 3rd 1941 and died July 24th, 1944 onboard USS Colorado (BB-45) in the Pacific area due to severe shrapnel wounds from enemy action. 

USS Colorado was the lead ship of the Colorado class of battleships seeing active service during World War II. Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, she and Maryland patrolled near the Golden Gate Bridge to protect San Francisco from Japanese attacks.  

She later returned to Pearl Harbour for final preparations for action. She then operated in the vicinity of the Fiji Islands and New Hebrides from November 8th 1942 to September 17th, 1943 to prevent any further Japanese expansion in the Pacific. Early 1944 USS Colorado joined other units to aid in the pre-invasion shelling at Saipan, Guam, and Titian after June 14th. During the shelling of Tinant on July 24th, she was damaged and 43 men were killed, including John Parker, and an additional 198 men were wounded by 22 shell hits from 150mm Japanese shore batteries. After undergoing extensive repairs, she continued to serve in the Pacific Theatre until the end of the war. She was placed out of commission into reserve on January 7th, 1947 and was sold for strap on July 23rd, 1959.

Accompanying this purple heart is a letter from the Department of the Army to John’s father, including a photograph of his grave plot and map to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where John Junior Parker was buried.