First Lieutenant Parker was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Battery B, 8th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 4 September 1950 and returned to duty on 6 September 1950. Jackie was listed as Missing in Action while fighting the enemy near Yougbyon, North Korea on 27 November 1950. He was presumed dead on 31 December 1953.

His remains were recovered on 15 August 2000, identified on 25 September 2007 and he was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, First Lieutenant Parker was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.