Fort Hayes Hotel's Lockbourne Officers' Lounge membership card for C. Walder Parke   Save
Charles Walder Parke WW2 Collection
Description: Membership card belonging to C. Walder Parke for the Lockbourne Officers' Lounge at Fort Hayes Hotel. Also known as an Albert Pick hotel, the building was a 14-story structure that formed part of the Columbus-based military post at Fort Hayes, which was named for President Rutherford B. Hayes. Fort Hayes has a long history dating back to the Civil War era. Fort Hayes served as a reception center for officers and other soldiers during WWII until March 1, 1944. After that date, it became a facility used by other groups, such as the Army Reserve, Guard of Engineers, and various civilian organizations. Parke was assigned to the Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus beginning in October of 1944, and Lockbourne is located not far south of Columbus. Charles Walder Parke was born on July 28, 1924, and grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 intending to be a pilot during WWII, but spent most of his military career as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortresses in the 94th Bombardment Group. Parke earned two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal with several Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful bombing missions, including some over Berlin. He is best known for being on board a B-17 which was shot down over France by German planes on June 25, 1944, during a non-combat mission. The crew managed to make an emergency landing, and everyone inside survived. After the war, Parke founded the Cleveland-based Laurel Industries Inc., which became a prominent supplier of antimony oxide to the plastics industry. He died of Lou-Gehrig’s Disease on September 15, 1996, at the age of 72. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1510_B02F03_006
Subjects: Parke, Charles Walder, 1924-1996; Associations, institutions, etc.--Membership
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio);