James K. Parsons

James Kelly Parsons was born in Rockford, Alabama on February 11, 1877.[1] He was the son of Catherine "Kate" (Kelly) Parsons and Lewis E. Parsons (1846–1916), a lawyer who served as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.[2][3]

Parsons' grandfather, also named Lewis E. Parsons (1817–1895), was provisional Governor of Alabama after the American Civil War, and was elected to the United States Senate during the Reconstruction Era, but was not allowed to take his seat because Alabama had not yet attained full readmission to the Union.[4]

Parsons attended the schools of Birmingham, Alabama. In 1898 he was commissioned for the Spanish–American War as a first lieutenant in the 3rd Alabama Volunteer Infantry, a unit of African American soldiers and white officers.[5] His regimental commander was Robert Lee Bullard, and Parsons' connection to Bullard helped Parsons receive a commission in the regular army and continue his military career.[6]

Parsons remained in the United States Army after the war with Spain, receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in the 20th Infantry in 1899.[7] He served in the Philippine Insurrection until 1901,[8] when he was promoted to first lieutenant in the 28th Infantry, and later that year transferred back to the 20th Infantry.[9] He graduated from the Infantry and Cavalry School in 1904.[10] In 1908 he received promotion to captain, and his assignments at this rank included command of Company F, 20th Infantry Regiment in Hawaii.[11][12] He was promoted to major in 1917.[13]

In the years before World War I Parsons served as mustering officer at Camp Glenn near Morehead City, North Carolina, and then as an observer and advisor with the New York National Guard.[14]

At the start of World War I Parsons was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel and then temporary colonel, and assigned to the staff of the American Expeditionary Forces in France.[15] He later served as commander of the 39th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.[16] He was gassed during a German attack on October 11, 1918, and was relieved by Troy H. Middleton.[17] In 1919 Parsons received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism as commander of the 39th Infantry.[18] In addition, he received the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his post-war command of the Embarkation Center at Saint-Nazaire, which processed American service members for their post-war return trips to the United States.[19]

After the war Parsons returned to his permanent rank of major.[20] He was promoted to permanent lieutenant colonel in 1920 and permanent colonel in 1923.[21][22] His assignments included again serving as inspector and advisor for the New York National Guard,[23] and serving on a board to recommend armory locations, training sites, and unit types and sizes for the Indiana National Guard.[24] Parsons graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1923,[25] the United States Army War College in 1924,[26] and the Naval War College in 1925.[27] He received promotion to brigadier general in 1930 and major general in 1936.[28][29]

In 1930 and 1931 Parsons commanded the 9th Coast Artillery District in San Francisco.[30] He was commander of the 23rd Infantry Brigade at Fort William McKinley, Philippines from 1931 to 1933, and the 5th Infantry Brigade at Vancouver Barracks, Washington from 1933 to 1936.[31]

Parsons commanded the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Sam Houston, Texas from 1936 to 1938, and from 1938 until 1940 he commanded the Third Corps Area with headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland.[34][35] In 1938 he also served as interim commander of First United States Army.[36] As corps area commander, Parsons oversaw the planning, execution and evaluation of exercises designed to assess the fitness of units, staffs and commanders as the army expanded and increased readiness at the start World War II.[37]

While in command of Third Corps Area, Parsons oversaw development and fielding of a new field jacket, the M-1941, which was used by the army throughout World War II. Parsons had launched the project after identifying a need to replace the wool coat then in use with an outer garment that was lightweight, water repellent, and windproof, and could incorporate a liner for warmth during the winter.[38]

In February 1941 Parsons reached the mandatory retirement age of 64 and concluded his military service.[39]

Parsons died aboard the ship RMS Caronia on November 8, 1960 while in port at Venice, Italy.[40] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 1, Site 325-B.[41]

In 1904 Parsons married Volinda Lucy Henderson (1880–1957) in Columbus, Ohio. Volinda Parsons was the daughter of Charles G. Henderson and Ellen Beatty, the granddaughter of Union Army General John Beatty, and a 1904 graduate of Vassar College.[42][43] James and Volinda Parsons had no children.[44][45][46][47]

In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross and Army Distinguished Service Medal, Parsons also received the Purple Heart for wounds received while in command of the 39th Regiment during World War I.[48]

Distinguished Service Cross Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Infantry) James Kelly Parsons, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 39th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, A.E.F., near Cuisy, France, 27 September 1918, to 11 October 1918. Having volunteered to take command of a battalion, whose commander had been wounded, Colonel Parsons was knocked down by hostile shell fire, but he succeeded in rallying his men and kept them well organized, so as to withstand the heavy fire of the enemy. On the following day he assumed command of the regiment and commanded it in successful attacks, refusing to be evacuated after being so severely gassed that he was unable to see.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders 98 (1919)[49]

• "Gold Star Recipient James Kelly Parsons". World War I Gold Star Database. Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved November 26, 2015.