Robert "Spider" James Parks, retired Army Special Forces, passed away Sunday, October 30th, 2022, at the age of 81. He is proceeded in death by his brother Gary Parks, his parents, Robert and Dorothy Parks, brother Frank Parks and granddaughter Christa Flores. He is survived by his wife Lucia, his son James Parks, his daughter Barbara Harris (CJ), son Stephen Parks, and daughter Michelle Warburton (Derek). Spider is also survived by his grandchildren Melanie Parks, Taylor Parks, Christopher Harris, (Kelbi), Megan Haverkamp, JD Warburton. and great grandchildren Heaven Davis and Cash Flores. Spider's surviving siblings are Cynthia Ratliff (sister), Lewis and Joe Parks (brothers).

Spider grew up in Dallas, Texas and spent most of his adolescence on an Indian Reservation, and he proudly outlined his lineage back to the Comanche tribe. He initially joined the Army Reserves in 1957. His earliest career aspiration was to become a public health official. By the time Spider went to active-duty status in 1967, he was well on his way to achieving this as he had served in every Public Health department in Dallas City and County. In 1967 he volunteered for one deployment to Vietnam and was assigned to 5 ^th Special Forces Group. During his time in Vietnam Spider volunteered for a highly classified unit called Military Assistance Command - Vietnam Studies and Observations Group, MAC-V SOG. Of the more than three million Americans who deployed to Vietnam, only 2,000 served in SOG. Spider would tell you his defining Army experience was in Vietnam as a member of MAV-V-SOG. Spider would go on to spend 30 years in the Army, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major (CSM), the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Army. After Spider volunteered to be assigned to Vietnam, he would go on to serve in 1st, 7th, and 10th Special Forces Group (SFG). One of his final assignments prior to being selected to attend the Sergeant Major's academy was as a First Sergeant in the 82nd Airborne at Ft. Bragg, NC. After becoming a CSM he was assigned first to 3rd Battalion, 7th SFG in Panama and then to Korea as the Garrison CSM of Camp Page near Chunchon. Spider described 3-7 SFG and 1-1 SFG as the finest assignments that he had except for the assignment in Phu Bai, FOB 1, while serving in MAC-V SOG. Spiders most important priority as a leader was "saving and supporting his troops."

After retiring Spider went on to earn his doctorate degree in Behavioral Science and served 15 years with the Department of the Army as a behavioral scientist and substance abuse professional. While studying for his doctorate, for a time Spider was the Garrison Commander of Camp Hialeah in Pusan, Korea. Though Spider had completed extensive academic course work, he would go on to say the toughest course he ever attended was Special Operations and Intelligence (O&I). He also served as an unofficial POW/MIA representative for a joint committee of the Special Forces Association and Special Operations Association to find the remains of American prisoners of war or missing in action in Southeast Asia, where he was prior to his passing. Spider would return numerous times to Vietnam and Laos decades after the war ended. He went in search of those SOG men that never returned and were unaccounted for or missing. He never gave up on his desire to find SFC Lane and SSG Owen. He would say that he could still see their faces and the only thing that ever held him back from going there, to continue his search, would be funding or health issues.

During Spiders career he received the Special Forces Tab, Purple Heart (2), Silver Star (2), Bronze Star w/V device and oak leaf cluster, Air Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Legion of Merit, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Master Parachute Badge, Combat Diver Badge, Vietnam Parachutist Badge, and several classified awards. (DD214)

During his retirement Spider became an active member of the Special Forces Association, Special Operations Association, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the American Legion Post 237. He was on the honor guard at Post 237 for over 13 years during which time he assisted with over 1300 funerals for veterans. He also served on the Joint Special Operations Forces POW/MIA Committee.

Though Spider was a decorated War Hero, he was a simple man who loved his family and lived his life to the fullest. He enjoyed playing the guitar, sky diving, and he even played on minor league baseball teams up into his mid-sixties. His humble mannerism, deep respect for all service members past and present, made Spider uniquely special, just as he made all of us feel when we were with him.

Visitation will be Sunday, November 27th from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Berryhill Funeral Home.  Chapel service will be Monday, November 28th at 2:00 PM with Rev. Tim Cole officiating.  Full military honors will follow at Huntsville Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

Special Operations Association Foundation- Scholarship Funds
SOAF: SOA Foundation)
National League of POW/MIA Families NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POW/MIA FAMILIES - Home (powmiafamilies.org)