Urbane Francis Bass (1880 - 1918)

Born 4 Apr 1880 in Richmond, Virginia, United States

Husband of Maude Lillian (Vass) Bass — married 19 Jun 1907 in Wake, North Carolina, United States

Died 6 Oct 1918 at age 38 in Monthois, Ardennes, Champagne-Ardenne, France

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Biography

Urbane Bass is Notable.

Dr. Urbane Bass, a physician who volunteered to serve as a medic in World War I, was killed on the battlefield in France while treating wounded soldiers under heavy fire, and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in combat.^[1]

"I am herewith offering my services for the Army Medical Corps should there be need for a Negro Physician for that branch of Service."-- letter written by Dr. Bass to the Secretary of War in 1916.^[1]

Urbane Francis Bass was born in 1880 in Richmond, Virginia, the firstborn son of Rosetta Harris and Richard J. Bass, a Baptist minister in Richmond.^[2][3][4] He graduated from Virginia Union University in 1902 and the Leonard Medical School of Shaw University in 1906.^[5] He established his medical practice and a pharmacy in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and became the first African-American physician since Reconstruction to reside in that city.^[1]

Urbane married Maude Vass in Wake County, North Carolina in 1907.^[6][7][8] They continued to live in Fredericksburg, Virginia and had four children together before Urbane volunteered for service in World War I.^[9][10]

Their children were:

1. Frances Mae Bass (1908–1959)^[11]
2. Urbane Francis Bass, Jr. (1910–1996)^[12]
3. Anne Maude Bass (1912–)^[13]
4. Ruth G. Bass (1918–)
   

   1st LT Urbane Bass served in the United States Army in World War I
   Service started: 1918
   Unit(s): 372nd Infantry, 93rd Division
   Service ended: 1918
   

   Urbane Bass was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (United States).
   

   Dr Urbane Bass was Killed in Action during World War I.

Urbane was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 372nd Infantry, 93rd Division. He departed for France in March 1918.^[14]

He died on the battlefield in France in October, 1918, when a shell severed his legs while he was attending to wounded soldiers.^[15][2] With these words he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Urbane F. Bass, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 372d Infantry Regiment (Attached), 93d Division, A.E.F., near Monthois, France, October 1 - 6, 1918. During the attack on Monthois Lieutenant Bass administered first aid in the open under prolonged and intense shell fire until he was severely wounded and carried from the field.^[16]

Urbane was initially buried in France, but his body was brought back to the U.S., where he was interred in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Virginia.^[16] The City of Fredericksburg later renamed a public building in his honor.^[17]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Wikipedia contributors, "Urbane F. Bass," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Urbane_F._Bass&oldid=1128953533 (accessed January 15, 2023).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Richmond Planet, 09 Nov 1918, Sat., p. 2, "Lieut. Urbane F Bass Killed in Action in France," Free View of Clipping
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC5D-WXT : 15 January 2022), Ervin F. Bass in household of Richard J. Bass, Richmond, Henrico, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
4. ↑ 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1900; Census Place: Richmond, Jackson Ward, Richmond City, Virginia; Page: 22; Enumeration District: 0105; FHL microfilm: 1241739
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #72841250 (accessed 16 December 2021)
   Urbane F Bass (20) son, Clerk, in household of Richard J Bass (48) in Richmond, Jackson Ward, Richmond City, Virginia. Born in Virginia, USA.
5. ↑ Physician's Directory: "Directory of Deceased American Physicians, 1804-1929"
   Ancestry Record 7833 #7257 (accessed 16 December 2021)
   Name: Urbane F. Bass; Birth Date: 1880; Death Date: 6 Oct 1918; Death Place: Monthois, France; Type Practice: Allopath; Practice Specialities: Fredericksburg, VA, Jul 28, 1914; Licenses: VA, 1906; Practice Dates Places: Fredericksburg, VA, Jul 28, 1914; Medical School: Leonard Medical School, Raleigh: Shaw Univ. Med. Dept., 1906, (G).
6. ↑ "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJQ-1618 : 9 March 2021), Urbane Francis Bass and Maude Lillian Vass, 19 Jun 1907; citing Wake, North Carolina, United States, p. 412, North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 2,312,617.
7. ↑ 1907 Marriage: "North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011"
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 60548 #2428252 (accessed 16 December 2021)
   Dr Urbane Francis Bass (27) marriage to Maude Lillian Vass on 19 Jun 1907 in Wake, North Carolina, USA.
8. ↑ 1907 Marriage Announcement, Richmond Planet, (Richmond, Virginia), 15 Jun 1907, Sat, p. 1 Full Clipping Marriage of Miss Maud Lillian Vass of Raleigh, NC to Dr. Urbane Francis Bass of Fredericksburg will take place 19 Jun 1907.
9. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg (Independent City), Virginia; Roll: T624_1629; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0042; FHL microfilm: 1375642
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #29196541 (accessed 16 December 2021)
   Urbane T Boss, married, Physician, head of household in Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg (Independent City), Virginia, USA. Born in Virginia. With wife Maude, 2 children, married 3 yrs.
10. ↑ 1920 Census - Widow and Children: "1920 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1920; Census Place: Fredericksburg Upper Ward, Fredericksburg (Independent City), Virginia; Roll: T625_1888; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 48
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #80619084 (accessed 10 December 2022)
    Maud Bass (33), widowed head of household in Fredericksburg Upper Ward, Fredericksburg (Independent City), Virginia. Born in Virginia.
11. ↑ "Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVBJ-MPQD : 1 March 2021), Urbane F Bass in entry for Mae Francis Bass, 21 Aug 1908; from Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : n.d.); citing Fredericksburg, , Virginia, United States, certificate 3059, Library of Virginia, Richmond.
12. ↑ "Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVBJ-SPGC : 1 March 2021), Urbane Francis Bass Sr in entry for Urbane Francis Bass, 20 Feb 1910; from Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : n.d.); citing Fredericksburg, , Virginia, United States, certificate 6094, Library of Virginia, Richmond.
13. ↑ "Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVBJ-MRDQ : 1 March 2021), Urbane F Bass in entry for Anne Maude Bass, 08 Feb 1912; from Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : n.d.); citing Fredericksburg, , Virginia, United States, certificate 3269, Library of Virginia, Richmond.
14. ↑ 1918 Troop Passenger List: "U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939"
    The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 584
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61174 #1655334 (accessed 16 December 2021)
    Name: Urbane F Bass; Gender: Male; Departure Date: 30 Mar 1918; Departure Place: Newport News, VA; Address: # 506 Eleventh Street; Residence Place: Fredericksburg VA; Spouse: Maude L Bass; Ship: Susquehanna; Military Unit: Mrc; Rank: 1"Lt; Notes: Sanitary Detachment, Medical Department, 372nd Infantry, 93rd Division (Prov).
15. ↑ Military: "American Soldiers of World War I"
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61470 #70549 (accessed 16 December 2021)
    Name: Urbane F Bass; Estimated Residence Year: Abt 1917; Residence Place: Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA; Estimated Death Year: 1917-1918; Cause of Death: Died of Wounds; Rank: Lieutenant; Military Branch: US Army.
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6418607/urbane-francis-bass: accessed 15 January 2023), memorial page for Dr Urbane Francis Bass (14 Apr 1880–6 Oct 1918), Find A Grave: Memorial #6418607, citing Fredericksburg National Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg City, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Becky and Ken Dalton (contributor 48067227). Citing Daily Star, (full citation needed) Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
17. ↑ "Building in Fredericksburg named in Dr. Bass' honor," The Free Lance Star, Jul 8, 1991

See also:

• "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMJT-BCK : 10 March 2022), Urbane F Bass in entry for Richard J Bass, 1900.

• Wikidata: Item Q26270074

• Wikipedia: Dr Urbane F. Bass

• https://www.flickr.com/photos/vieilles_annonces/4781196076/in/photolist-8huT27