Rufus Herve Bacote facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rufus Herve Bacote
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| Born | July 1, 1890 |
| Died | October 13, 1930 (aged 40) |
| Resting place | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Education | Meharry Medical College (1917) |
| Occupation | physician |
| Title |  First lieutenant |
| Spouse(s) | Amanda Bacote |
Rufus Herve Bacote (born July 1, 1890, died October 13, 1930) was a doctor who worked in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was also a brave army doctor during World War I. He served as a first lieutenant in the 370th Infantry Regiment.
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Growing Up in South Carolina
Rufus Bacote was born on July 1, 1890, in Timmonsville, South Carolina. This town was about ten miles from Florence. His family lived in an area known for farming. His parents were M.T. Bacote and Hattie Jackson. Rufus was the second of their four children. His father worked as a farmer.
In 1917, when he was 27 years old, Rufus Bacote finished his studies at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. Soon after, in May 1917, he signed up for the army draft for World War I.
Serving in the Military
In 1917, Rufus Bacote joined the army. He became a first lieutenant in the Army Reserve Corps. He first went to a training camp for medical officers at Fort Des Moines. After 46 days there, he moved to Camp Fuston, and then to Camp Logan.
He was assigned to the 370th Infantry Regiment. This group was mostly made up of African-American soldiers. Rufus Bacote became a medical doctor for this regiment.
In 1918, Bacote and his unit were sent to France. They traveled on a ship called the USS President Grant. General Pershing sent many African-American troops to help the French army. Bacote worked alongside other doctors who had also graduated from medical school, like George Washington Antoine and Claudius Ballard.
During the war, Bacote had only minor injuries. He mostly cared for soldiers who were sick or had been affected by gas attacks. In 1918, he finished his time in the army.
Life as a Doctor
After the war, Bacote returned to Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife. He heard that there were not enough doctors in Kentucky. So, he and his wife moved there, and he started practicing medicine.
In 1920, they moved again to Earlington, Kentucky. Rufus Bacote continued to work as a doctor in Earlington until he passed away in 1930.
His Passing
Rufus Bacote died in 1930 from kidney disease. His body was brought back to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was buried.
Family Life
Rufus Bacote married Amanda Bacote in 1917, shortly after he became a doctor. They did not have any children. After Rufus died, Amanda moved to Chicago. She was very active in the Pilgrim Baptist Church School there until her own death.
