A graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, class of 1925, he was awarded the Navy Cross three times during World War II.

At time of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into World War II, Parker, was a lieutenant commander, and the skipper of the destroyer USS Parrott, which was part of the Asiatic Fleet.

His citation read:The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Edward Nelson Parker (NSN: 0-59455), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer USS Parrott (DD-218), and for extreme disregard of personal safety, devotion to duty, courage, leadership and alertness in successfully delivering a determined attack with torpedoes and gunfire during action with the enemy.

His citation read:The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Edward Nelson Parker (NSN: 0-59455), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Destroyer Division FIFTY-NINE, in action against enemy Japanese naval forces at Badoeng Straits off the Island of Bali, Netherlands East Indies, on the night of 19–20 February 1942.

Lieutenant Commander Parker's conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Courageous and daring in the face of severe enemy fire, Captain Parker fought his ships boldly throughout this hazardous engagement, going in unsupported and, as a unit of Destroyer Division FIFTY-EIGHT, delivering a successful torpedo attack against two hostile heavy cruisers and seven light cruisers which forced the Japanese to break off the attack and thereby enable the Allied Ships to regain their battle formation.

Captain Parker's superb seamanship and outstanding professional skill and the valiant fighting spirit of the officers and men under his command reflect the highest credit upon the United States Naval Service.

His citation read:The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Edward Nelson Parker (NSN: 0-59455), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Destroyer Division FIFTEEN (DesDiv 15), aboard the Destroyer USS Cushing (DD-376), during an engagement with Japanese naval forces near Savo Island on the night of 12–13 November 1942.

[3] After the war ended, Parker returned to sea duty in the Pacific in November 1945, leading a destroyer squadron in the Allied occupation of Korea and North China until April 1946.

He returned to the United States in September 1948, where he served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C., until August 1950, when he assumed command of the cruiser, USS Newport News.

[5] He was promoted to vice admiral in 1960,[1] and served as the Deputy Director, Strategic Target Planning, at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska from August 1960 to January 1962.