Bagby, Alfred Parks

Alfred Bagby, Bronze Star Recipient

Alfred Parks Bagby

My cousin, Alfred Parks Bagby, enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and served in the 104th (Timberwolf) Infantry Division in Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, which Citation states:

“Private First Class Alfred P. Bagby, Infantry, Company B, 413th Infantry, United States Army, is awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in connection with military operations in Belgium, Holland and Germany, on 23 October 1944 to 8 May 1945. During this period Private Bagby performed his duties as driver in a very superior manner, often courageously assuming responsibilities above and beyond the call of duty. On one occasion, he carried a vital supply of ammunition directly to the front lines, though it was intended to be left at a collection point, since he realized that enemy fire was too heavy to risk the lives of men hand-carrying the load. On this and many similar occasions, Private Bagby performed actions, which exemplify the finest of military traditions and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States. Entered military service from Cedar Hill, Texas.”

“A.P.” was the first of five children born to Leta McElroy and Raymond Fred Bagby. He was born December 5, 1916, and attended Lancaster High School. He married Marion Frances Hamm on January 15, 1938. Marion was born January 11, 1920 at her grandparents’ farm on Pleasant Run Road. “The doctor and his wife had to stay three days after I was born be-cause of the rain,” says Marion. “All of the roads around were dirt and you couldn’t drive on them if it rained for quite a while.” Her parents, Alice Marie Allen (born 1898 in Dallas) and William Malcolm Hamm (born 1896 in Tennessee), lived in a house on Ten Mile Creek and she graduated from Lancaster High School. Rebecca Alice Bagby was born to A.P. and Marion on October 22, 1946.

My first memories of Cousin A.P. were of him at Bagby’s Garage, the Sinclair service station and garage that he and his family ran for many years. It was located on Belt Line Road, just east of Hampton Road and next to Grimes Garage, owned by Cousin Parks Grimes. Rebecca often sat at the counter at the garage and chatted with customers. “Everyone knew Rebecca,” says Marion, “because she talked and charmed all the customers.” She was an especially pretty girl and remains quite pretty, with a face that does not show her fifty-five years.

The family attended DeSoto Church of Christ (now Rolling Hills Church of Christ). A.P. and Marion’s father, Malcolm, was elected to the first DeSoto City Council in 1949, and according to the City of DeSoto web site, A.P. was elected again to the Council in 1960 and served until 1968, according to The Dallas Morning News. He organized the first DeSoto Volunteer Fire Department and was a volunteer county fire marshal, and had a car equipped with lights and siren.

A.P. died at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 1991, and Marion now lives in Dallas with Rebecca.