Kenneth D. Bailey

For United States Navy ships named Kenneth D. Bailey, see USS Kenneth D. Bailey.
Kenneth D. Bailey
   A light blue neck ribbon with a gold star shaped medallion hanging from it. The ribbon is similar in shape to a bowtie with 13 white stars in the center of the ribbon.
Kenneth D. Bailey, Medal of Honor recipient
Born (1910-10-21)October 21, 1910
Pawnee, Oklahoma
Died September 26, 1942(1942-09-26) (aged 31)
Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands
Place of burial Spring Hill Cemetery
Danville, Illinois
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1932 – 1935 (National Guard)
1935 – 1942 (Marine Corps)
Rank Major
Unit 130th Infantry Regiment, Illinois National Guard
5th Marine Regiment
Marine Detachment, USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
1st Marine Brigade
7th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Regiment
1st Marine Raider Battalion
Battles/wars World War II
*Guadalcanal Campaign
**Battle of Tulagi
**Battle of Bloody Ridge
**23-September 27, 1942 actions along the Matanikau River
Awards Medal of Honor
Silver Star
Purple Heart

Kenneth Dillon Bailey (October 21, 1910 – September 26, 1942) was a United States Marine Corps officer who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroic conduct during action during the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. He also earned the Silver Star Medal during the initial landing on Tulagi in the Solomon Islands and the Purple Heart.

Biography

Kenneth Dillon Bailey was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma, on October 21, 1910. He later moved to Danville, Illinois, with his parents. He spent three years with the 130th Infantry Regiment, Illinois National Guard, He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1935 and was an active member of the National Society of Pershing Rifles, serving as second in command. [1] He received his second lieutenant's commission in the Marine Corps on July 1, 1935. He was ordered to the Marine Barracks, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he completed a course of instruction in the Basic School.

Joining the 5th Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, he participated in maneuvers in San Diego, California, and in the Caribbean. In June 1938, he joined the Marine Detachment aboard the battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) as Detachment and Battery Officer. He was advanced to first lieutenant on January 19, 1939 while serving on board Pennsylvania.

A short tour of duty at Quantico as Range Officer with the Rifle Range Detachment preceded his assignment as Assistant to the Training Officer, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island at Parris Island, South Carolina. First Lieutenant Bailey was ordered to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in December 1940 where he joined the 1st Marine Brigade. He later joined the 7th Marine Regiment, then the 1st Marine Regiment, which returned to Parris Island not long after he reported for duty. He was promoted to captain in March 1941.

At Quantico in June 1941, he joined the 5th Marine Regiment as a company commander. In February 1942, his unit was redesignated the 1st Marine Raider Battalion. The unit was ordered to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego at San Diego, California, in April 1942, and on April 30, 1942 reached Tutuila, American Samoa.

During the invasion of Tulagi, Solomon Islands, at the beginning of the Guadalcanal Campaign on August 7, 1942, Captain Bailey led a successful assault against a Japanese machine gun nest. Although seriously wounded, he directed the action of his company until forcibly evacuated. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity," he was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on Tulagi.[2] He was promoted to major on May 8, 1942.

Bailey later moved with his unit to Guadalcanal. As commanding officer of Company C, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, he led his men in repulsing a Japanese attack, which had penetrated American lines during the Battle of Edson's Ridge, 12 to September 14, 1942. Despite a severe head wound, he directed his men for more than 10 hours of fierce hand-to-hand combat. "His great personal valor while exposed to constant and merciless enemy fire, and his indomitable fighting spirit inspired his troops to heights of heroic endeavor which enabled them to repulse the enemy and hold Henderson Field."

Major Bailey was killed in action on September 26, 1942 while heading his men in an attack on the Japanese at the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal (see Actions along the Matanikau). He was buried on Guadalcanal, but his remains were reinterred in Spring Hill Cemetery, Danville, Illinois, in June 1948.

For his actions on Guadalcanal, Major Bailey was posthumuously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Awards and honors

A light blue ribbon with five white five pointed stars
Medal of Honor
Silver Star Purple Heart Navy Presidential Unit Citation
American Defense Service Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

MAJOR KENNETH D. BAILEY
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For extraordinary courage and heroic conduct above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of Company C, First Marine Raider Battalion, during the enemy Japanese attack on Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on September 12–13, 1942. Completely reorganized following the severe engagement of the night before, Major Bailey's company, within an hour after taking its assigned position as battalion reserve between the main line and the coveted airport, was threatened on the right flank by the penetration of the enemy into a gap in the main line. In addition to repulsing this threat, while steadily improving his own desperately held position, he used every weapon at his command to cover the forced withdrawal of the main line before a hammering assault by superior enemy forces. After rendering invaluable service to the Battalion Commander in stemming the retreat, reorganizing the troops and extending the reserve position to the left, Major Bailey, despite a severe head wound, repeatedly led his troops in fierce hand to hand combat for a period of ten hours. His great personal valor while exposed to constant and merciless enemy fire, and his indomitable fighting spirit inspired his troops to heights of heroic endeavor which enabled them to repulse the enemy and hold Henderson Field. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

/S/FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

Namesakes

The United States Navy destroyer escort USS Kenneth D. Bailey (DE-552) was named for Major Bailey. Her construction was cancelled in 1944.[2]

In 1945, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Kenneth D. Bailey (DD-713), in commission from 1945 to 1970, was named in his honor.[2]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Pershing Rifles Unit Disbands" Daily Illini, 23 May 1943. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kenneth D. Bailey", Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

References

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