Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Albert
Newton
Park
, Jr.
April 18, 1889

–

August 26, 1944

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

Albert Park graduated from Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio in 1910, earning his B.A. degree. He then attended CallÕs College, receiving his W.T.S. and S.T.B. in 1914. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister in the Presbytery of Grafton on June 17, 1914, and was assigned to the First Presbyterian Church in Mannington, Virginia. In 1917 he was appointed an acting chaplain in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the U.S.S. Baltimore and the U.S.S. Arkansas, before being assigned as a Chaplain with the 5th Marine regiment in France, during combat in World War I. He was the only Navy chaplain to serve with Marines during all their major engagements in World War I, and received Citation Stars from both General Lejeune and General Pershing. After the war, sea-service assignments included the U.S.S. U.S.S. Wyoming (1919), U.S.S. Oklahoma, U.S.S. Argonne, and U.S.S. Chaumont (1922), and the U.S.S. Tennessee (1930 – 1931). He retired as a U.S. Navy captain in 1936. He died in 1944 after a gas explosion in his California home in what was believed to be a suicide. He had posted a note on his door reading, “Do not Enter; gas fumes,” and told friends not to call on him that day as he would not be home.

Awards Received

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant, Junior Grade (ChC)

    Regiment:

    5th Regiment (Marines)

    Division:

    2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 4, 1918

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade (ChC) Albert N. Park, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action southeast of Saint Etienne, France, on 4 October 1918, while attached to the Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces. Chaplain Park, while in charge of the regimental burial detail, voluntarily exposed himself to heavy shell fire to assist two wounded men to a place of safety, and calmly walked around among the men directing them to get under cover while remaining himself exposed.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant, Junior Grade (ChC)

    Regiment:

    5th Regiment (Marines)

    Division:

    2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 4, 1918
    Headquarters, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Order No. 88 (1918)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Lieutenant, Junior Grade (ChC) Albert Newton Park, Jr., United States Navy, is cited by the Commanding General, SECOND DIVISION A.E.F., for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Park distinguished himself by gallantry in action while attached to the Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action on 4 October 1918, near Saint Etienne-a-Arnes, France, while in charge of the regimental burial detail. He performed deeds above and beyond the call of duty, by voluntarily exposing himself to the heavy shelling to assist two wounded men to a place of safety and, calmly walking around among the men directing them to cover.
    (First Citation)

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant, Junior Grade (ChC)

    Regiment:

    5th Regiment (Marines)

    Division:

    2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 4, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Order No. 4 (June 3, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Lieutenant, Junior Grade (ChC) Albert Newton Park, Jr., United States Navy, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Park distinguished himself by gallantry in action while attached to the Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Saint Etienne, France, 4 October 1918, in assisting two wounded men to a place of safety under heavy shell fire.
    (Second Citation)