MAJ Parnell, a native of Ireland, served with the 1st U.S. Cav. at White Bird Canyon, Idaho. On June 17, 1877, Parnell and a few men faced heavy fire by the pursuing Nez Perce. Realizing a comrade fell behind, Parnell returned and retrieved the soldier whose horse had been killed, and was left behind during the retreat. For his devotion, Parnell received the Medal of Honor.

*The preceding content is not intended as a comprehensive biography, but it highlights their significance as a result of military or civilian distinction, lasting achievements, or association with impactful national events.

San Francisco National Cemetery

Golden Gate National Cemetery

Grave marker image for (WILLIAM PARNELL).

A member of the 17th Lancers during the Crimean War, he participated in the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava. He later became a Lieutenant Colonel and brevet Colonel in the U.S. Army, participating in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Parnell served as an officer to the 1st U.S. Cavalry in the Nez Perce War and received the Medal of Honor for leading a rescue of troops, and personally saving the life of a fallen trooper, at the Battle of White Bird Canyon in 1877. During the first two years of the Civil War, he was part of Colonel Louis Blenker's campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley and West Virginia. He also saw action at the battles of Cross Keys, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, and the Second Battle of Bull Run. With the Cavalry Corps, he also fought at the battles of Fredericksburg, Beverly Ford, Brandy Station, Stoneman's Raid, Aldie, and Middleburg. On 21 June 1863, he was captured after leading a failed cavalry charge at the Battle of Uppervilleand briefly held as a prisoner-of-war. He escaped two months later and made his way to Petersburg, West Virginia where he was reunited with his regiment. He later saw action at the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Trevilian Station, Petersburg, Lee's Mills, Winchester and Cedar Creek among other engagements. He was wounded in battle several times, brevetted twice and had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel by the end of the war. At the Battle of Infernal Caverns on 26–28 September 1867, Parnell was wounded by an arrow and brevetted for gallantry.[5] He again served with Crook a year later battling Indians at Dunder and Blitzen Creek in Oregon on 14 March 1868. During 1872–73, Parnell also saw action with Captain David Perry in the Modoc War and in many other campaigns in the Pacific Northwestduring the 1870s. He also fought at the Battle of the Clearwateron 11–12 July 1877, and, in the Bannock campaign, at Birch Creek on 8 July and the John Day River crossing on 20 July 1878.

WILLIAM R PARNELL

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