Samuel M Parker

A descendent of Colorado pioneers, Bucky was born November 28, 1917, in Grand Junction, Colo., to Samuel Byron Parker and Maude Belle (nee Carothers) Parker. His father died in an industrial accident in 1922. Because the family was left in abject poverty, Bucky spent his childhood and teen years living with relatives and in boarding houses as his mother struggled to make ends meet.

Bucky graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1935 and attended Grand Junction Junior College (now Colorado Mesa University) for one year.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in February 1941. During Christmas leave in late 1942, Bucky traveled to Fort Collins, Colo., where he met local resident Talma Eula Street on New Year’s Eve. Less than four months later, Talma traveled to Virginia where Bucky was stationed. He won enough money in a craps game on the base for

Talma to buy an engagement ring and a new dress, which she wore for their wedding on April 28, 1943, in Farmville, VA.

Bucky’s division shipped out to Europe six weeks later, and he would not see his wife again for more than two years. When they reunited, Bucky was embarrassed to see that Talma had brown eyes, as he had repeatedly told fellow soldiers about his “red-haired, green-eyed wife” waiting for him back home. Though Talma passed away on Jan. 4, 1997, Bucky wore his wedding ring till the end of his life.

As a sergeant in the 157th Infantry Thunderbirds, 2nd Battalion, Company H, Bucky was on the front lines for some of the European Theater’s most ferocious fighting. Bucky served in North Africa and subsequently shipped to Italy, where he was among the first soldiers to make amphibious landings during combat at Sicily, Salerno and Anzio. Among his numerous awards and citations was the Combat Infantryman Badge for exemplary conduct in action during the Salerno campaign from Sept. 1943 to Jan. 1944.

Bucky endured brutal winter clashes in the Apennine Mountains and bravely fought during the ferocious Battle of the Caves at Anzio. After that battle in February 1944, only 177 soldiers and officers of the 2nd Battalion were still alive, out of 751 who had landed at Anzio.

On Feb. 23, 1944, Bucky and some 200 other U.S. soldiers were captured by the Nazis at Anzio. Bucky spent the next 16 months in stalags in Germany and Poland. In May 1945, his prison camp in eastern Poland was liberated by the invading Soviet Red Army, enabling Bucky and a handful of other POWs to slip away and eventually make their way to the American lines in western Germany.

Bucky subsequently returned to Grand Junction and his job at Darnell Optical, where he had worked as an optician before being drafted. He eventually became co-owner and built the company into one of the region’s largest wholesale and retail eyeglass outlets. Bucky sold his interest and retired in 1986.

A dedicated sports fan, Bucky attended local high school and college athletic events, the JUCO baseball tournament and Denver Broncos football games. He enjoyed gambling—especially craps and sports wagering—bowling, golfing, traveling and spending time with numerous close friends. Bucky was a 67-year member of Grand Junction Elks Lodge No. 575.

In addition to his wife and parents, Bucky was preceded in death by two sisters, Wanda and Norma, as well as two sons who died in childhood, Paul Mark and John Dale. He is survived by two daughters, Sandra Parker (Richard Planert) of Grand Junction, Colo., and Tammy Parker of Longmont, Colo., as well as two granddaughters, Suzette Bennett-Walker (Brian Walker) and Siobhan Bennett, both of Aurora, Colo.

There was cremation. At Bucky’s request, there were no services.