James K. Parsons
| James K. Parsons | |
|---|---|
Parsons as a Naval War College student in 1925.
|
|
| Born |
February 11, 1877 Rockford, Alabama |
| Died | November 8, 1960 (aged 83) Venice, Italy |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1898–1941 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Commands held |
Company F, 20th U.S. Infantry 39th Infantry Regiment Embarkation Center, Saint-Nazaire, France United States Army Armor School 9th Coast Artillery District 23rd Infantry Brigade 5th Infantry Brigade 2nd Infantry Division III Corps Area First United States Army |
| Battles/wars |
Spanish–American War Philippine Insurrection World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Purple Heart |
| Spouse(s) | Volinda Lucy Henderson (m. 1904–1957, her death) |
| Relations | Lewis E. Parsons (Grandfather) |
James K. Parsons (February 11, 1877 – November 8, 1960) was a career officer in the United States Army. He attained the rank of major general, and was notable for his command of the 39th Infantry Regiment in France during World War I, and his post-war command of the Army's tank school, 23rd Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Brigade, and 2nd Infantry Division. He closed his career as commander of III Corps Area and interim commander of the First United States Army, positions in which he supervised training exercises designed to prepare units for overseas service as the Army began to expand at the start of World War II.
James Kelly Parsons was born in Rockford, Alabama on February 11, 1877. 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.
The grandfather of James K. Parsons, also named Lewis E. Parsons (1817–1895), was provincial Governor of Alabama after the American Civil War, and was elected to the U.S. Senate during the Reconstruction Era, but was not allowed to take his seat because Alabama had not yet attained full readmission to the Union.
James K. 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. 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.
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