Current interest in a counter with fast response and thin transmission has led to the construction and study of a parallel plate proportional counter (PPPC). The PPPC was found to be essentially 100% efficient in the detection of 3 MeV protons. Gas gains near 104 were obtained in the pressure range between 177-355 torr. The rise time of the PPPC pulse for a plate separation of 5 mm was 35 nsec. The pulse height distribution indicates that zero-crossing timing should be used with the PPPC. A count rate of 103 counts/sec was discriminated from a background of 105 counts/sec by requiring coincidence with a scintillator. No degradation of the pulse height distribution was observed at this count rate.