THOMAS E. PARSON
Fireman Second Class · Plankowner, USS Silversides (SS-236)
| Born / Died | 31 Aug 1917 / 14 Oct 1990 |
| Service no. | 295-54-23 |
| Commissioning rate | F2c (15 Dec 1941) |
| Silversides tenure | 15 Dec 1941 – 17 Feb 1945 |
| Patrols aboard | 12 (27 ships credited, 145,062 t)² |
| Rate on leaving Silversides | CMoMM(AA)(T) |
| Other vessels | Sailfish (SS-192) |
| Service | BIRLS: 2 Feb 1956 – 31 Jul 1962 (omits WWII) |
Prewar (1917–1941)
Thomas Parson was born on 31 August 1917. In 1930 the family lived in Tracy City, Tennessee, in an owned home valued at $200. His father Thomas J. (46) was a coal miner, and his sister Lillie (21) was a public school teacher. Thomas, twelve, was one of five children. Before the war he served in Sailfish (SS-192) and appears on the same muster as Charles H. Mathewson.
On Silversides (Dec 1941 – Feb 1945)
Parson commissioned aboard *Silversides* on 15 December 1941 as F2c and made her first twelve war patrols, the first five under C.C. Burlingame, the next six under J.S. Coye Jr. and the twelfth under J.C. Nichols. On 8 December 1944 he was advanced to Chief Motor Machinist to replace Robert F. Messley. He left on 17 February 1945 as CMoMM(AA)(T).
| Patrol | Dates | CO | Credited sunk | Credited damaged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 Apr – 21 Jun 1942 | Burlingame | 5 (25,627 t)¹ | 1 (10,100 t) |
| 2 | 15 Jul – 8 Sep 1942 | Burlingame | 4 (15,250 t) | 2 (5,750 t) |
| 3 | 2 Oct – 25 Nov 1942 | Burlingame | 2 (12,500 t)² | 0 |
| 4 | 17 Dec 1942 – 31 Jan 1943 | Burlingame | 1 (10,010 t) | 3 (14,360 t) |
| 5 | 17 May – 1 Jul 1943 | Burlingame | 1 (10,000 t) | 0 |
| 6 | 21 Jul – 12 Sep 1943 | Coye | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | 5 Oct – 8 Nov 1943 | Coye | 4 (22,075 t) | 1 (5,000 t) |
| 8 | 4 Dec 1943 – 15 Jan 1944 | Coye | 3 (18,500 t) | 2 (8,000 t) |
| 9 | 15 Feb – 6 Apr 1944 | Coye | 2 (7,500 t) | 0 |
| 10 | 26 Apr – 11 Jun 1944 | Coye | 5 (23,600 t) | 3 (18,000 t) |
| 11 | 24 Sep – 23 Nov 1944 | Coye | 0 | 1 (200 t) |
| 12 | 22 Dec 1944 – 12 Feb 1945 | Nichols | 0 | 1 (6,800 t) |
| Total | 27 (145,062 t) | 14 (68,210 t) |
¹ Tonnage as credited in endorsements. Patrol 1 includes a submarine credit that was likely a log or other debris.
² Patrol 3 figures come from the ship’s history, not a patrol report. The total therefore mixes bases.
Later War (1945)
His service after leaving Silversides has not yet been traced.
Postwar (1945–1990)
BIRLS omits his World War II service and records 2 February 1956 to 31 July 1962. A 1955 Chattanooga city directory lists him as a chief petty officer in charge of the US Navy Recruiting Station, married to Margaret. No 1950 census entry has been found. He died on 14 October 1990.
Research Notes
-
BIRLS: the 1956 start follows the 1955 directory entry that already has him in the Navy. The BIRLS dates may mark a re-enlistment or commission.
verify -
Name: “Edward” comes from the Find a Grave memorial.
-
1930 census: the street address is cut off in the note.
-
Patrol 3:
secondary_source(ship’s history, not located on Fold3). -
Source notes (carried over, verbatim):
1930 Census Thomas J Parson (46) and Lula P (42). Lillie P. (21), Clarence L. (18), Blanche B (15), Thomas E. (12), and Helen L (8). Thomas J was a coal miner and Lillie P. was a public school teacher. Living in a $200 owned home at 17
1955 City Directory in Chattanooga has Thomas as “chf petty ofcr in chg US Navy Recruiting Sta” and married to a woman named Margaret. No 1950 census located.
Sources: 1930 census; BIRLS; 1955 Chattanooga city directory; Find a Grave; Silversides muster and ROC; Silversides patrol indexes 1–12.