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USAF MAJ Frank C. Parker III, Vietnam KIA
PHOTO: From left to right, Quakertown Borough Councilman Michael Johnson; Peter Chong, from the Office of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick; Commissioner Vice Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia; Bucks County Veterans Affairs Director Matt Allen; Maj. Frank C. Parker’s children Deb Parker-Hill and Frank C. Parker IV; Maj. Parker’s wife Sue Parker; Ed Preston, Chair of the Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (PAVVMF); Commissioner Chair Bob Harvie.
Episode 3072 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the renaming of a bridge in Quakertown, PA to honor the memory of fallen Vietnam Vet USAF Maj. Frank C. Parker III. The featured story appeared on the Bucks County Website and is titled: Quakertown Bridge Dedicated for USAF Major Lost in Vietnam War.
It was reported in the story that The County of Bucks on Tuesday honored the memory of a fallen Vietnam War hero by dedicating Bridge #264 in Quakertown to U.S. Air Force Major Frank Claveloux Parker III.
A small crowd gathered near the bridge, spanning a quiet creek, to witness the unveiling of a sign bearing Parker’s name. Standing near it, a man placed his hand on the post, head bowed in silence, honoring the pilot whose story still echoes through the community.
Maj. Parker, a Quakertown native, served as the Electronic Warfare Officer aboard a C-130E Hercules aircraft on a classified mission over Southeast Asia on December 29, 1967. That day, the aircraft and its crew vanished without a trace. For decades, his family and fellow airmen held onto hope and remembrance.
“Maj. Parker made the ultimate sacrifice for his country during a time of great uncertainty,” said Bucks County Commissioner Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia. “It is fitting that this bridge, which connects parts of our community, will now forever bear the name of someone who gave so much.”
The dedication is part of an ongoing effort by the county to recognize local servicemen who never returned from war. For the Parker family and Quakertown residents, the sign is more than just a name—it’s a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and hometown pride.
As cars now pass over the bridge, the name of Maj. Frank Claveloux Parker III will serve as a quiet but powerful reminder of the cost of freedom.
To learn more about the program and the men it is meant to honor, visit BucksCounty.gov/MemorialBridges.
To see more photos from Tuesday’s ceremony, visit the County’s Flickr page.
Media Contact: James O’Malley, 215-348-6414, jtomalley@buckscounty.org
Listen to Episode 3072 and discover more about the renaming of a bridge in Quakertown, PA to honor the memory of fallen Vietnam Vet USAF Maj. Frank C. Parker III.
