James “Galloping Jim” Parker, Class of 1870

A West Point graduate in 1876, Lieutenant Colonel Parker served during the Indian Wars of the 1870s and 1880s, continuing on active duty until 1918, when he retired as a major general. In 1898, Parker was second in command of the 12th New York Infantry in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. As a lieutenant colonel, he saw significant combat in 1899 while commanding the 45th Volunteer Infantry in the Philippine-American War, for which he earned the Medal of Honor. “While in command of a small garrison, Lt. Colonel Parker repulsed a savage night attack by overwhelming numbers of the enemy, fighting at close quarters in the dark.”