Leon Paul Parker

PRIVATE LEON PAUL PARKER of 139 North 26th Street, Camden NJ died at Camp McClellan, Anniston, Alabama on October 13, 1918, from plural pneumonia. 

Leon Paul Parker was born in Parkertown in Ocean County, New Jersey, on October 13, 1896 to Henry Parker and his wife, the former Anna Meyers. His father worked as an oysterman. The 1900 Census shows the Parker family living in Little Egg Harbor in Ocean County. The family included older sisters Alice and Emily, and younger brothers Chester and Benjamin.

Leon Parker enlisted at Camden in Company B, 1st Engineer Battalion, New Jersey National Guard, in April of 1917, and left with the Company for Camp Edge, Sea Girt, New Jersey on July 25, 1917. In August he was transferred to Camp McClellan, where the company became part of the 104th Engineer Regiment. 

Private Parker was injured while at Camp McClellan, and an operation prevented him from going to France with his regiment when it sailed in June of 1918. After recovering from the medical procedure, he was retained at Camp McClellan in a clerical capacity. 

Private Leon P. Parker when taken ill during the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918. He was survived by his parents, Henry and Annie Parker, of Parkertown NJ, and his sister, Mrs. Alice P. Farrell. of 139 North 26th Street, Camden NJ, with whom he made his home. Leon Parker was 22 years old at the time of his death.