Since 2021, Lilly Broadcasting has honored local veterans and their families. Erie News Now is continuing our weekly series, Remembering Our Veterans, with the story of the Parker brothers, Raymond and Harold.

They grew up in Erie County and fought in World War II at the same time. Their young sister, Donna, was just an infant when her brothers went off to war. One served in the Navy, and the other brother in the Air Force.

"It's hard to believe I had brothers that much older than me, and were in the service when I was born," said Donna. "My mother told me most of the stuff that was going on, because I was born while they were overseas, and they didn't realize they had another sister until she wrote them. They didn't want to believe it, but then they came home and there I was." 

Now 81 years old, Donna is the only remaining sibling. She had three brothers and six sisters. Years later, she heard the stories and the close call for one brother.

"Raymond had six children, three boys and three girls. He lived in Albion and had an appliance service, I think he did more services on the appliances than selling things for the service," said Donna. "Sherry was his oldest, and we were quite close, and Harold had Jimmy. Jimmy joined the Air Force when he was old enough."

Due to the age gap, 19 and 17 years respectively, Donna spent more time with her brothers' children.

"I have one article that talks about when Raymond was on the ship, and a Kamikaze plane went down through the side of the ship and some of his buddies were killed and he got a Purple Heart," said Donna. "It blew out his eardrums and he used to help shoot at the planes. Harold was more in the Air Force part, he was in New Guinea and other places like that. My mother used to write to both of them to let them know where the other was at, and Harold flew to Japan where Raymond was and that was the first decent meal that Harold had in a long time, because out in the jungle there wasn't very good food." 

To the Parker brothers Raymond and Harold, thank you for your service, and to sister Donna for telling their story.