Finely dice the turkey bacon, yellow onion, celery, and red potatoes into uniform pieces.
In a medium stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium heat and sauté the turkey bacon until it begins to crisp.
Add the onion and celery to the pot, cooking for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
Stir in the diced potatoes, sea salt, black pepper, and dried thyme to coat them in the aromatics.
Pour in the clam juice and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 12-15 minutes until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
Stir in the milk and the chopped clams with their remaining liquid, heating gently for 3 minutes without allowing the soup to reach a full boil.
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, then garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.