CDR Joseph M. Parsons, USN Back to Commanding Officer's page
Commander Joseph M. Parsons, USN, Commanding Officer of
the USS JOHN W. WEEKS (DD-701) is a native of
Michigan having been born in Grand Rapids on 4 February 1920.
He attended local schools in Michigan and entered the United States Naval
Academy with a congressional appointment in 1938.
Upon graduation and commissioning in 1942, Commander Parsons reported to the USS
ROE (DD-418). His tour of duty there lasted until April of 1944 at which time he
was ordered to Post Graduate School at the Naval Academy and Cornell University
for Ordnance training.
Commander Parsons received his M.S. in Engineering from Cornell in 1946. His
next tour of duty was aboard the USS STRIBLING (DD-867) as Executive Officer,
following by duty aboard the USS EPPERSON (DDE-719) also as Executive Officer.
This was followed by assignment to the Bureau of Ordnance until January of 1954,
at which time he went aboard the USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) as Operations Officer.
Commander Parsons assumed command of the USS JOHN W. WEEKS (DD-701) on 19
September 1955.
He is authorized to wear the following medals: American Defense Service Medal;
American Theatre Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Campaign Medal;
European-African Campaign Medal; World War 11 Victory Medal; Occupation Medal;
and National Service Defense Medal.