Edward Bailey
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Edward Eugene Bailey (1925 - 1983)

Edward Eugene "Bill" Bailey
Born in Carmichaels, Greene, Pennsylvania, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 25 Jan 1946 in Portage, Cambria, Pennsylvania, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Father of
Died at age 58 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 13 Nov 2018
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Biography

Edward Bailey served in the United States Army in World War II
Service started: 14 July 1943
Unit(s): Company B, 87th Chemical Battalion, 4th Infantry Division 1945
Service ended:
Edward Bailey was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.


construction and work with horses

Last residence ZIP: 44675 Sherrodsville, OH

"Bill" was inducted into the army on 14 July 1943 in Baltimore, MD [residing at time of induction at 225 South Hanover Street], and entered active service as member of Company B, 87th Chemical Battalion on 4 August 1943, at Camp Rucker, Ozark (Dale County) AL. Left for Tennesee Maneuver Area (Camp Forrest) on 31 January 1944. The company had furlough for eight days starting 13 February 1944. On 23 March 1944 the battalion departed for Camp Shanks, New York. They departed for Europe on 31 March 1944 on the 'Queen Elizabeth'. Company 'B' landed at Grenock, Scotland on 8 April 1944 and traveled cross country to Tiverton, Devonshire, arriving 9 April, to begin preparations for 'D-Day'. Here the Battalion attached to the 4th Infantry Division. A few weeks prior to 6 June (15 May) the company received orders to move to a marshaling area at Torquay. They left Torquay with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, 4th Division on the USS Barnette and landed on Utah Red Beach. ['Col. James Van Fleet took command of the 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division on July 21, 1941. The 8th had been activated a year earlier for the express purpose of developing tactics to contain a blitzkrieg offensive, but when Van Fleet took over the situation had changed and he trained the 8th 'as an assault unit, the American force that would make the first landings'. He explained, 'The initial thrust of our training was how to storm and seize enemy strongpoints such as pillboxes'. The history of 'B' Company describes the events of 6 June as follows: 'Forward observer parties were to go with the infantry assault teams, the mortar companies to follow and land at 'H' plus 50 minutes. To describe that mad dash to the beach in LCVP's, being tossed around like a bar of soap in a bath tub, men grabbing their puke sacks, sheets of salt water drenching all with every dip of the boat, each dip seeming to be the last, rocket boat discharging their loads with a swish of burning powder trailing the rockets, hundreds of planes releasing their bombs along the beach on which we were to land and a million other incidents would require a book in itself. We hit, 'hell, how we hit it', the beach we had heard to much about, and there was no mistake the 'big' job was at last under way. The first baptism of fire! The whine of an incoming shell and when to hit the dirt was learned immediately, or else! Habits established through long months of training came to our rescue and we began to function. We were learning new habits now, habits established through experience and not 'by the numbers'. Then - from the beach and across Normandy, fox holes, hedgerows, 88's, 'K' rations and 'D' bars, calvadors (sic) [calvados is a potent brandy] and cider, continuously on the go, fighting - fighting, this unit, that unit, our job was to give close support, not to rest'. The unit was commended by Major General J. Lawton Collins on 6 December 1944 for its actions during the invasion of Europe. The commendation noted: ' Beginning at H plus 50 minutes on D-Day, June 6, 1944, the 87th Chemical Battalion has been in the vanguard of every fight in which the VII Corps troops have participated. The fire support you have the 8th Infantry Regiment in its assault on Utah Beach was an important factor in securing the beachhead and insuring the swift movement of our forces across the inundated area. In our drive up the Cotentin Peninsula to capture Cherbourg, the companies of the 87th Chemical Battalion were integrated with the leading units of the 4th, 79th and 9th Infantry Divisions, and in many instances it was the close support of your fire that enabled the infantry to drive the Germans out of their positions and maintain the relentless pressure which has been the secret of our swift advance. The same was true following the aerial bombardment north of Marigny-St. Gilles when we broke though the German positions and dislodged them from the hedgerow country of Normandy. When the VII Corps absorbed the brunt of the German counterattack to break through the First Army at Montrain, the 87th Chemical Battalion in support of the 4th and 9th Infantry Divisions helped smother and throw back this German thrust. In the crucial battle around the Mons, elements of your battalion in support of the 1st Infantry Division were an additional factor in breaking up the attempt of the XV German Corps to swing through Belgium. The carnage and rout which followed our victory there enabled us to continue our relentless pursuit through Belgium and into German itself'. 'Bill' distinguished himself during the battle for Cherbourg. The following portion from the citation awarding him the Bronze Star on 24 September 1944 tells the story: ' On June 29, 1944, Company B was occupied in giving supporting fire to the infantry engaged in cleaning out the last resistance in the Cherbourg Peninsula. Private First Class Bailey, as radio operator for the forward observer of his company's 4.3' chemical mortar platoon, had the task of maintaining communication between the advance party and the gun emplacements in the rear. At approximately 1100 a mortar shell struck in close proximity to their position, slightly wounding Private First Class Bailey. He declined evacuation and continued with his mission. From 1100 until 1200 Private First Class Bailey stuck by his job carrying his SCR 300 radio along with him in the face of extremely heavy machine gun, mortar and small arms fire. At 1200 another mortar exploded nearby smashing his radio and seriously wounding him. Private First Class Bailey continued to attempt to carry on, refusing to be evacuated, and until he received a direct order from his superior officer, refused to be removed from the scene. Though under heavy fire and previously wounded by enemy action, Private First Class Bailey, with unswerving loyalty and courage, continued to carry out his duty as a radio operator, maintaining communication with the mortar position and enabling the platoon to carry on its mission'. The unit history reports the events as follow: 29 June 1944, Item 102 (D plus 23): Co A displaced forward twice in support of the 47th Regt, 9th Inf Div. Progress in cleaning up the Cap de la Hague area has been made slow and difficult by numerous Teller and S-mines and accurate artillery fire. Approximately 100 rounds of HE were fired during the day on strong points. Co B displaced forward in support of operations of the 60th Regt, 9th Inf Div. Eighty rounds of HE were fired at 0600 on prearranged targets, namely, strong points. At approximately 1000, two enlisted men in the forward observer party were hit and seriously wounded by enemy shellfire. At approximately 1700 while firing a mission on an enemy strong point, an enemy artillery shell landed directly in the gun position of the first platoon and killed three men, wounding six others. Only one radio was put out of action by this shellfire and the platoon continued to fire all four mortars in its mission in spite of the sudden loss of nine men. Nine replacements and a new radio were immediately displaced forward from the Bn rear area and the platoon was at full strength again by 2100. Intermittent artillery fire continued to fall in the vicinity of all the positions occupied throughout the day. Strength decreased to 39 officers and 734 enlisted men. Casualties: 36682189, Hild, Arthur J., Pvt, KIA, Co B 31389062, Ohlson, Lief O., Cpl, KIA, Co B 31379323, Doyle, Edward F., Pvt, DOW, CoB 31337171, Bakis, Joseph A., Pvt, SWA, Co B 32939114, Dayton, Hyman B., Cpl, SWA, Co B 32880832, Shapiro, Irving, PFC, SWA, Co B 33730054, Bailey, Edward E., PFC, LWA, Co B 31299503, Binns, Joseph H., Sgt, LWA, Co B 31374023, Martel, Lionel F., Pvt, LWA, Co B 37663620, Olsen, Norman L., Pvt, LWA, Co B 33440454, Shapiro, Harry, Pvt, LWA, Co B. The unit joined with Terry Allen's Timberwolves, 104th Division, on December 10. Lucherberg was the first engagement, followed by Merken. Again the company history reports, 'On the 25th of December, Christmas Day, we moved into firing position in Sadzot, Belgium and ate our Christmas Dinner by moonlight. We were now with the bewildered 75th Division and had a bitter time indeed! In the bright moonlight of the 27th, the Germans descended upon us in full fury. Despite their greater number we faced them alone at the start/ When daylight came, the paratroopers and tank destroyer men helped us, and then the picture became clear - our heroes, and there were many such - the dead and missing whom we mourn, the wounded. Yet it was out task to stay on and that we did. December 30th saw us back at Havelange, Belgium, diminished in numbers but not in spirit. We welcomed the New Year somberly with the memory of Sadzot still fresh in our hearts'. And anothe report states: Company B, in operations with the 289th Regt, 75th Div, attached 3rd Armd Div, fired 24 rounds of HE, unobserved interdictory fire on a road junction south of first battalion's position. At 0140 the company mortar positions, vicinity of Sadzot (P4789) located approximately 3,000 yards behind our front lines, were suddenly attacked by a large group of enemy infantry which had infiltrated thru a gap approximately 1,000 yards wide between the 1st and 2nd Bns, 289th Inf. This group of enemy infantry was composed of four companies of approximately 60 men each (the 5th and 6th companies led the assault) of the 25th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitler Jugend). The suddenness and strength of this attack, which was supported by light mortar fire, automatic weapons, and many rifle grenades, overran- the mortar positions. However, the enemy was immediately engaged by officers and men of Company B who had been alerted by our own security posts. The enemy was resisted from houses in the village until they were set afire and then the men slowly fell back to defensive positions north of the village. Three officers and approximately 30 men after successive defensive operations, fell back to a line approximately 500 yards north of the village which was being formed by the 509th Parachute Battalion and they fought on this line until approximately 0630 at which time they were relieved. Although the mortar positions and Vicinity had been overrun by the strength of the attack, when elements of Company B entered the village with paratroops at 1130, it was discovered that 6 of the 9 mortars were still in position and intact; these were recovered. The remaining three mortars were in an area about 800 yards east of the village and are still in enemy hands. Only five of the 17 vehicles had been destroyed and at the close of the period, the twelve were in use. One officer and one enlisted man were killed, 15 enlisted men wounded, 9 of whom were evacuated and 26 men are missing. This company was the first resistance encountered by this enemy force whose objective was to seize Sadzot from the south and east, to secure that village, push on to capture two other towns in the vicinity, and to take and hold the main highway running west and east through Brezee-Grandmenil. Had they been successful, they would have overrun the 289th regimental CP and several battalions of artillery in the vicinity. The stubborn resistance by Company B not only prevented the enemy force from cutting this road but gained time for units to the rear to establish a defensive line from which a counterattack was launched at approximately 0400. Reports indicate that from 20 to 25 casualties were inflicted upon the enemy by members of Company B before they were forced to withdraw from the village. Those men were still resisting in the village when our troops fought their way back in at approximately 1100. By 1500, a platoon of four guns had formed and, having re-entered the village, was set up in firing positions and available for any fire missions which the infantry might request. Small arms and mortar fire in the vicinity continued heavy throughout the period. For his actions in service he was awarded the ETO Ribbon with 4 Bronze Battle Stars, the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star, and other battle and unit badges. His mother had died on 16 May 1945 (but a letter to his sister reveals he did not receive word until 11 June 1945). Writing to his mother from Germany on 22 May 1945, 'Bill' described his service as follows: 'Dear Mother, There are no more restrictions on our writing, so will try to tell you all that has happened, and when. Arrived in England on Easter, went to the marshalling area the 15th of May. Climbed on the U.S. Barnnet [sic] the 1st of June for the invasion, hit the beach 10 minutes to eight. That was 50 minutes after H hour. Was wounded right after Cherbough fell on the 29th of June. Was in the Hosp. in England the 4th of July. Left the hospital to go to France on [sister's] birthday [2 August]. Was back with the outfit the 18th of Sept. Joined the company near Aachen. We were on the Roer River when the big German offensive started. We were sent there to help stop it. I was wounded there the 28th of December. Came back to the Roer River for the drive to Cologne. Then we went to the 7th army sector to cross the Rhine. Our Bn. has been in support of the following Divisions, 1, 4, 9, 82 airborne, 101 airborne, 79, 83, 104, 8.' After his service during WWII, "Bill" lived with the grandfather A. J. Stephens and aunt Etta Stephens. He first took a job as a salesman for Sweetheart Soap. He subsequently met Roseanne Strickling when she and her mother were visiting her step-father who was working in the area of Carmichaels. "Bill" obtained employment in construction through Ray Petry's help, and continued in that line of employment for many years as a welder and ironworker. Later he worked as a truckdriver until disabled. He had a life-long interest in horses and ponies. As a young man he accompanied "Doc" Mckim, a local stockman, and did his accounts as he bought and sold livestock. He later raised and showed various types of horses and ponies, and also worked as a rodeo clown and judge at horse shows. As he grew older, and his physical disabilities increased, he developed an interest in Welsh ponies and developed "Coffee Pot Farm" into one of the best known and respected breeding farms in the United States and Canada.

Sources

  • Dick D. Heller, Jr., Dick D. Heller, Jr., The Sharpnack Family, (1997-Oct. 18, 1998 Mission TX).
  • Broderbund Family Archive #110 Soc Security Death Index, "CD-ROM."
  • D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climatic Battle of World War II, Stephen Ambrose (Simon and Schuster, 1994), page 131].
  • Death certificate
  • Obituary
  • Personal information of Bill Bailey (son)




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Rejected matches › Edward William Bily (1924-1985)