QM2c Emery William Parichy was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 20, 1924, to Emery A. Parichy and Margaret D. Kramer-Parichy. With his two sisters, he grew up at 1113 South Harlem Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, and graduated from Saint Bernadine School, Forest Park, and Proviso Township High School, Maywood, Illinois, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, played football, and worked as a life guard. He also used William as his first name. He also appears to have joined the Naval Reserve while in high school. His father was the President of the Proviso Township High School Board of Education.
He inducted into the US Navy on January 20, 1943, in Chicago. His military records indicated the name on his birth certificate was Emery William Parichy. He was issued the serial number of 851 22 62, and did his basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. After he completed boot camp, on November 2, 1943, he was assigned to the minesweeper the USS Osprey which was a Raven Class minesweeper. He rose in rank to Quartermaster 2nd Class.
What is known is that the Osprey was assigned to take part in the Normandy invasion. On June 5, 1944, it made its way toward Normandy. Bill was in the ships mess hall having dinner when the ship hit a mine. It was the last time anyone saw him. When a muster was taken of the ship’s crew, he was one of six men missing. Although the ship’s crew put out the fire, the Osprey still sunk.
His parents did not hear anything from the Navy until July 19th, when they received a telegram
EMERY A PARICHY
1113 SOUTH HARLEM AVENUE
FOREST PARK ILL.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT DEEPLY REGRETS TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON EMERY WILLIAM PARICHY QUARTERMASTER SECOND CLASS USNR IS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTY AND IN SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY THE DELAY IN NOTIFICATION IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT REPORT WAS WITHHELD TO VERIFY ACCURACY IF FURTHER DETAILS ARE RECEIVED THEY WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU PROMPTLY TO PREVENT POSSIBLE AID TO OUR ENEMIES PLEASE DO NOT DIVULGE THE NAME OF HIS SHIP OR STATION THE NAVY DEPARTMENT EXTENDS TO YOU IT SINCEREST SYMPATHY
VICE ADMIRAL RANDALL JACOBS
CHIEF OF NAVAL PERSONNEL
The ship’s captain, Lieutenant Commander C. H. Swimm, USNR, wrote a letter to Bill’s parents. In extracts from the letter, he said, “Bill’s work on the bridge enabled the officers to watch him grow from an inexperienced young seaman to a valuable petty officer and man, efficient and courageous.” He also wrote, “In addition, outside his duties, he exerted a strong influence over all his shipmates for everything that was fine and clean. His loss will be deeply felt by all of us for a very long time. Biil was last seen in the mess hall, and did not answer to muster, nor was he seen again.”
After the war, the name of QM2c Emery W. Parichy was put on the Tablets of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France.
