Joe Parks was born on on June 13, 1927, in Bay City, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 22, 1947, and after completing Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, he served on Guam from January 1949 to January 1950. His next assignment was to Fort Custer, Michigan, from January 1950 to March 1951, followed by service in Korea during the Korean War from March 1951 to February 1952. He served at Fort Lewis, Washington, from February to November 1952, and then on Okinawa from November 1952 to June 1954. Sgt Parks next served at Fort Hood, Texas, from June 1954 to October 1955, followed by service at Fort Polk, Louisiana, from October 1955 to November 1956. He served in West Germany from November 1956 to February 1958, and then at Fort Hood from February 1958 to May 1959. SSG Parks next served at Fort Carson, Colorado, from May 1959 to January 1960, followed by service in South Korea from January 1960 to March 1961. He served at Fort Riley, Kansas, from March to September 1961, and then returned to South Korea, where he served from September 1961 to November 1962. His next assignment was at Fort Gordon, Georgia, from November 1962 to March 1964, followed by service as a Translator-Interpreter with Headquarters Military Assistance Command Vietnam, where he served with 1st Battalion of the 13th Regiment of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam from March 1964 until he was captured and taken as a Prisoner of War by the viet cong on December 22, 1964. After spending 741 days in captivity, SSG Parks died at the hands of his communist captors on January 1, 1967. He was promoted to Sergeant First Class before being declared dead, and his remains have never been returned to the United States.