Benjamin F. Parks '42 and Daniel Eugene Thompson, Jr. '42, each officers in the UGA ROTC Infantry Regiment were killed in action in World War II. Parks and Thompson were outstanding students and soldiers - two heroes of UGA's Greatest Generation.

Benjamin F. Parks

Parks was born in Maysville, Banks County, Georgia. He was named for his forefather who first discovered gold in Dahlonega, Georgia which started the nation's first gold rush. Ben attended public schools and was the first honor graduate of Maysville High School. He was also first in his class when he graduated from North Georgia Junior College and awarded a scholarship to the University of Chicago. However, he decided to attend the University of Georgia and graduated with honors in December, 1942 with a B.B.A. degree. He was Lieutenant Colonel in the ROTC, member of the Officers Club, Dramatic Club, the YMCA, and Prince Avenue Baptist Church.

He entered the Army in January, 1943, graduated from Officer's Candidate School at Fort Bennning and trained at Camp Wheeler, GA, Camp Swift, Texas and Camp Breckinridge, KY. He was sent overseas in October, 1944 and was killed in action in the Battle of the Bulge in Belle Haie, Belgium on December 14, 1944.

Ben was married to the former Janice Hatcher, '42, of Macon.

Daniel Eugene Thompson, Jr.

Thompson was born in Pinehurst, Dooley County, GA where he attended public schools and was a member of the First Methodist Church.

Followng high school he attended North Junior College, graduated in 1941 and entered the University of Georgia. He was an officer in the University's ROTC Infantry Regiment and graduated in December, 1942.

He entered the Army in 1943, graduated from the Officer's Candidate School at Fort Benning and trained at Fort Jackson, S.C. Assigned to the 88th Division, he was sent overseas in December, 1943 and entered combat in May, 1944 and participated in the liberation of Rome. He was wounded at Volterra, Italy in July, 1944 and spent four months convalescing. He rejoined his company in northern Italy in late November that year and was killed in action on April 22, 1945 - seven days before the unconditional surrender of all German forces in Italy.