Allen Hudspeth

Allen V. (Babe) Hudspeth passed away at 8:40 a.m. on May 8th 2013 at his home with his loving family at his side., Visitation will be held Sunday May 12th from 6-8pm at Baum Carlock Bumgardner funeral home in Mineral Wells Graveside services will be held Monday may 13th at 1:00 p.m. at Woodland Park cemetery. Babe was born in Rochester, Texas on January 5, 1922 to James and Virgie (Foster) Hudspeth. Babe and his siblings were raised by his mother after his dad died at an early age. He married the love of his life, Lottie Grace Siler on February 14, 1940 and they were together for 73 years before Grace passed away February 9, 2013. When Babe was only 16 years old, World War II was well underway and with the urging of his three older brothers, he enlisted in the Texas National Guard 124th Cavalry Regiment in Mineral Wells and began training with the F Troop, a horse mounted regiment. He was sent to Fort Bliss in EI Paso, Texas for three months training and then to Fort Ringold, Rio Grande City for two years. In April 1942, Babe and about two dozen others were sent to join the F Troop of their sister unit, 112th Cavalry Regiment, in the South Pacific. Babe went first to the French Island of New Caledonia and Australia to train and get equipment while several of his brothers went to clear the Burma Road between China and India. They had to leave their horses behind when they left for the jungle island battles. Babe saw his first action when they helped take the island of New Britain. The group was sent in to the middle of the island to distract the Japanese forces for the main assault on Gloucester. Though the group had artillery and anti-aircraft support, they were a "regimental combat unit" and were not attached to a larger group and had no support. It was around 6,000 Americans against a force of 100,000 Japanese for several days until the 1st Marine Division took over the airport and other important areas in Gloucester. After several battles in New Guinea and Philippines area, including Altape and Leyte, they attacked the biggest island in the Philippines, Luzon, in January 1945. Several months into the battle, he was allowed home on leave and was discharged in San Antonio in August 1945. After the Liberation of the Philippines, Babe was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the World Was II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 bronze star. Babe rein listed into the Air Force and was stationed at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio where he was discharged in 1949. Babe was a lifetime member of the VFW and the American Legion. After the war Babe was hired by J.L. Cox & Sons Pipeline Construction in Raytown, Missouri and became superintendent. He left that job after twenty years of service and worked for the county Palo Pinto. He later was elected as commissioner for Palo Pinto County precinct #1 and served for three terms until he retired. Babe had many friends from the F Troop, VFW, The American Legion and in the county of Palo Pinto whom he cherished. He loved to visit with his friends and would extend his hand to help anyone he thought needed help. He will be truly missed by all his friends and family here as he rejoices in Heaven with his "sweet Grace", all his F Troop buddies and the many friends that precede him in death. He is survived by his son Allen Hudspeth Jr. and wife Kay: grandsons, Michael Hudspeth, Eric (Ricky) Hudspeth, and Jerry Locker; granddaughters, Theresa McCachran, Lisa Sagona and husband Jimmy, Connie Krynicki, Kim Sund and husband Gene, Dana Griffith and husband Sam, Patty White and husband Sherwood; Eleven great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Lottie Grace Hudspeth. his parents, four brothers, two sisters and a great grandson.