Parish, Earl “Skeets” Osenton (P2, C3, L33)

Second Lieutenant Earl O. Parish was born 27 January 1919, at Dayton, Ohio. He enlisted in the Kentucky National Guard on 15 October 1940, at Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky, with Troop F, 123rd Cavalry. In 1940, his unit was re-designated as Battery C, 103rd Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft). He was inducted into federal service with his unit at Fort Thomas on 24 February 1941. While on active duty he was transferred to the 3rd Ranger Infantry Battalion and on 29 September 1943, accepted a commission as Second Lieutenant.

Parish was killed in action in Italy on 9 December 1943, while serving with the 3rd Ranger Infantry Battalion. He is buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy.

Officer, Ex-Grid Star, Is Killed

Kentucky Post, 18 January 1944, p. 1.

A former Highlands School star football and basketball player, Second Lieut. Earl (Skeets) Parish, 25, was killed in action Dec. 9 with the Third Ranger Battalion in Italy, it was learned Monday.

Mrs. Samuels Franks, 1044 N. Ft. Thomas avenue, Ft. Thomas, an aunt, received the information from Lieut. Parish’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Pat Parish, who formerly lived at 56 Lumley avenue, Ft. Thomas.

Lieut. Parish, who was graduated from Highlands High School in 1938, was a member of the Kentucky National Guard when that unit was mustered into federal service in 1941. His parents moved to Battle Creek shortly after the beginning of the war.

His father was a widely known football player, having been a member of the Bellevue A. C. and the Mercury A. C. in Bellevue, and the Christ Church A. C. of Cincinnati.