Retired Illinois National Guard Soldier Receives Legion of Merit

Story by 1st. Lt. Dutch Grove, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

Related Media

SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/26/2011)(readMedia)-- When you have done something for four decades, like now retired Sgt. Maj. Donnie Parker of Springfield, you are bound to leave a lasting legacy. In this case, Parker's legacy can be found in the values and leadership skills of Soldiers all across the Illinois National Guard.

Parker was awarded the Legion of Merit at a ceremony on Camp Lincoln in Springfield July 22 for exceptionally meritorious service as a member of the Tennessee and Illinois Army National Guards from August 1970 to July 2010.

"I'm very humbled," said Parker. "If somebody would have told me in 1970 that I would receive that award today, I would have laughed at them."

Parker was a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadet at East Tennessee State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in business management. He began his military career in Bristol, Tenn., as a second lieutenant and mortar platoon leader in the Tennessee Army National Guard in August of 1970.

Like earning the Legion of Merit, Parker may well have laughed at anyone who said he would serve for nearly 40 years.

"I saw myself doing six years and getting out," said Parker. "But I developed a love for the military."

He was due to be promoted to the rank of major in the early 1980s, but since there were no major positions open in the Tennessee Army National Guard, Parker left active national guard status and was placed in the inactive ready reserves. Parker returned to the Tennessee Army National Guard in 1992 as an enlisted Soldier.

Just like love motivated him to stay in the early days of his military career, love, this time for a woman, brought him to the Illinois Army National Guard in 1999.Parker was introduced to his wife, Deborah at a conference, and after courting her, the two married and in 1999 Parker transferred to the Illinois Army National Guard. Parker remained an enlisted Soldier.

"Officers plan and the enlisted do and I enjoy doing; training troops," said Parker.

Parker was assigned as a group leader for the Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course at the 129th Regional Training Institute (RTI) at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. Within three years, Parker was promoted to operations sergeant of the 129th RTI where he was considered the key element in the RTI being awarded as an "Institute of Excellence" by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command for three consecutive years.

During his time in the Illinois National Guard, Parker trained and mentored more than 11,500 Soldiers.

"Troops everywhere need to be challenged and if you challenge them, they'll step up to the challenge and do what you're asking or requiring them to do," said Parker.

As much as Parker enjoyed training the troops, he relished going through the training just as much.

"I enjoyed it. I liked training, I liked the camaraderie," said Parker. "I can think back to times during some training exercises where I was miserable; staying up all night in a foxhole. But looking back, I really enjoyed it."

Parker's wife, Deborah said he treated each Soldier he trained as if they were his own, which was never more apparent then when he served as a casualty assistance officer.

"There were times when it was difficult, but I've always been supportive," said Deborah. "It was hard when he was a casualty assistance officer because he took it so very personally. Every call he got in the middle of the night, or casualty case, he treated as if it were a member of his own family."

Since retiring in 2010, Parker looks forward to spending time with family and traveling. But as a full-time human resource specialist on Camp Lincoln, he doesn't see himself giving up his calling as a mentor to Soldiers any time soon.

"Don't miss the opportunities for training because there are so many things that you can be trained on that you can use throughout life," Parker advises. "Whether it's leadership training or just learning how to mentor people, take advantage of the training opportunities."

Photo Caption #1: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Dutch Grove, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Donnie Parker of Springfield shakes hands with Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard after being presented with the Legion of Merit July 22 during a ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. Parker retired in July 2010 after nearly 40 years in the Tennessee and Illinois Army National Guards.

Photo Caption #2: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Dutch Grove, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Donnie Parker of Springfield poses with Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard after being presented with the Legion of Merit July 22 during a ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. Parker retired in July 2010 after nearly 40 years in the Tennessee and Illinois Army National Guards.

Photo Caption #3: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Dutch Grove, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Donnie Parker of Springfield hugs his wife Deborah after being presented with the Legion of Merit July 22 during a ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. Parker retired in July 2010 after nearly 40 years in the Tennessee and Illinois Army National Guards.

Become our Facebook Fan! www.facebook.com/illinoisnationalguard

For high resolution photos, please contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at ngilstaffpao@ng.army.mil