Thomas Parrott was born on November 22, 1937, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Air Force for Navigator Training on June 25, 1959, and was awarded his Navigator wings and commission as a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force at Harlingen AFB, Texas, on June 22, 1960. Lt Parrott next attended RB-66 Destroyer Navigator/Bombardier training at Mather AFB, California, from July 1960 to March 1961, followed by service as an RB-66 navigator with the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, from March 1961 to October 1963. He served as a navigator with the Operations Section of the 7407th Support Squadron at Rhein Main AB, West Germany, from October 1963 to January 1967, and then as an instructor navigator with the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, from January to April 1967. Capt Parrott next served as an RF-4C Phantom II Reconnaissance System Operator with the 22nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Mountain Home AFB from April to June 1967, followed by service as an RF-4C Reconnaissance System Operator with the 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from June 1967 until he was forced to eject from his stricken aircraft over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on August 12, 1967. After spending 2,042 days in captivity, Major Parrott was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and then attended Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, from July 1973 to January 1974. Lt Col Parrott served as the Assistant Chief and then the Chief of the Consolidated Base Personnel Office at Lowry AFB, Colorado, from January 1974 to November 1976, followed by service as Chief of the Personnel Office at Hancock Field, New York, from November 1976 until his retirement from the Air Force on February 1, 1983. Thomas Parrott died on October 16, 1998, and was buried at Whitfield Memorial Gardens in Dalton, Georgia. His widow, Millie Runyan Parrott (1941-2003) is buried with him.

His 1st (of 2) Silver Star Citation reads:

Captain Thomas V. Parrott distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force in North Vietnam on 12 August 1967. On that date, Captain Parrott navigated an RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft to obtain photographic coverage of the priority one target deep within hostile territory. With complete disregard for his safety, Captain Parrott would have had to navigate his aircraft through intense antiaircraft fire and missile attack, to obtain the desired photographic reconnaissance coverage. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Parrott has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.