Darien, CT

Harold D. Parady 1911-1945

The March 2022 edition of the MGS Newsletter includes an article about Harold Parady by Tara Forschino.

Judith Camonier-Dupont, from the Netherlands, has adopted the grave of Harold D. Parady, a WWII veteran from Darien, Connecticut. Her country continues to have an extreme appreciation for what American soldiers did for them during the war. Thank you Judith and your country for your continued interest, support and praise for our brave American war soldiers.

A page was established for Harold on Fields of Honor - Database, a digital memorial, a tribute to those who sacrificed their own lives for the freedom of others during World War II. Judith was able to find a good deal of information about Harold. But she was missing family information. So, in June 2020, she explained on a Facebook page that she would like to obtain any family information about Harold, ideally a photo.

Fields of Honor - Database, including a photo of Harold Parady.

Tara Finn Forschino, a member and former President of MGS, found Judith's Facebook page and asked for help on the MGS Facebook page. Tara located Harold's death announcement in her local Norwalk, Connecticut, newspaper (see below). And some additional information was found. But, no pictures.

In July 2021, MGS made Harold Parady an honorary member of MGS and created this Member Page for Harold on it's website in the hopes that a family member might spot it. Blanche Parker of the Darien Library found a larger obiturary in the Darien newspaper (see below), but there was still no picture.

In October 2021, Jim Valentine wrote to MGS: "I am trying to contact someone familiar with Harold D. Parady. I came across the Society's online notice regarding Judith Dupont from the Netherlands who has adopted Harold's grave. She was requesting more information which I may be able to provide. My mother, deceased, was related to the Parady family in Connecticut. When my father, who grew up in Darien, passed a few years ago I found the actual Purple Heart engraved with Harold's name in his belongings. Also a photo of Harold with buddies during the war. Please let me know how I may get in touch with Judith or anyone else interested." Tara put Judith and Jim together, and the rest is history!

Below is Judith's original post on Facebook:

Hello. I am looking for pictures, information or family members of Harold Parady We live in the Netherlands and have adopted his grave on the Netherlands American War Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten Up until this moment we have acquired this information:

Born: 17 November 1911, Lebanon, Grafton County, New Hampshire

Hometown: Darien, Fairfield County, Connecticut

Family: Alfred E. Parady (father), Emma L. Parady (mother), Leroy Parady (brother), Edward Parady (brother), Maurise Parady (brother)

Battalion: 323rd Field Artillery Battalion, 83rd Infantry Division

Enlistment: Hartford, Connecticut on 5 November 1942

Rank: T/5

Harold Dale Parady was born on November 17, 1911, in Lebanon, New Hampshire. His family moved to Connecticut in the 1920s. He completed elementary school and wen to work as a roofer, like his father Alfred Parady. His father Alfred died in 1938. The WWII draft was institutued in peacetime in September 1940 for all men between the ages of 21 and 45. Harold registered for the draft at age 28. Sometime after that he became a foreman for Darien Tree Warden William J. Cotta. He was 30 years old at the time of his enlistment in November 1942.

Harold went overseas in April 1944 and took part in many battles in France and Germany. He was assigned to Ninth Army, XIX Corps, in Rhineland on February 16, 1945. He was killed in action in Germany in Operation Grenade on March 5, 1945, two months before VE Day. His rank was Technician Grade Five (Corporal). His mother Emma Parady received a telegram from the War Department at night on Thursday, March 15. She lived at 27 Tokeneke Road in Darien. His Service Number was 31248202. The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands is 70 miles east of the Rhine River.

Harold was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star posthumously, which were given to his mother Emma. Emma, who died in 1952, passed these awards down to Harold's sister Mildred, who was married Walter Jerman. Mildred, who died in 1987, passed the awards down to her daughter Lois, who was married to Norman Valentine. Lois, who died in 2009, passed the awards down to her son Jim Valentine. Jim found this Member Page in October 2021 and contacted Judith, who put Harold's photo on the page established for him in the Fields of Honor - Database. Jim also sent MGS a copy of the medals and the photo for this Member Page.

Purple Heart Medal - front	Purple Heart Medal - back	Photo of Harold and fellow soldiers. See also: Fields of Honor - Database
Bronze Star Medal - front	Bronze Star Medal - back

Norwalk Hour, Friday, March 16, 1945.	Darien Review, Thursday, March 22, 1945, page one.
Darien Review, Thursday, March 22, 1945, page five.

Harold is one of 40 men listed on the Darien World War II Memorial located in front of the Darien Town Hall.

Memorial located in front of the Town Hall in Darien, Connecticut. Source: Darien World War II Memorial.

Following is information about Harold D. Parady and the adoption of graves at the American Cemetery in Margraten.

• Fields of Honor - Database
• ABMC Memorial Certificate
• Traces of War
• 83rd Infantry Division
• U.S. Ninth Army's Breakout
• Rur River - Operation Grenade
• The Last Offensive - Operation Grenade
• Netherlands American Cemetery
• Find A Grave

Draft Card.

Map of the Rhineland Campaign, showing General Simpson's Ninth Army, including the XIX Corps, to which the 83rd Infantry Division was assigned. On March 1, the 83rd Division advanced toward the Rhine in Operation Grenade, and captured Neuss. By March 2, the west bank of the Rhine from north of Oberkassel to the Erft Canal was cleared and defensive positions established. Operation Grenade was successfully concluded on March 5. The American Cemetery is just east of Maastricht, which can be seen on the left-hand side of the map. Source: Operation Grenade.

Hospital File

Headstone Inscription at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, a Second World War military war grave cemetery, located in the village of Margraten, 6.2 miles east of Maastricht, in the most southern part of the Netherlands. The cemetery contains 8,291 American war dead.

Tombstone. Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Netherlands. Source: Find A Grave. See also: Fields of Honor - Database

American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Netherlands. Source: Netherlands American Cemetery. 2006 photo by Ivan from the Netherlands.

Birth record for Harold Dale Parady, 7th child of Alfred and Emma Lovell Paradis, November 17, 1911, Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Memorial Certificate from the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Census for Parady Household