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name
BAILEY, Bert James Jr - Date of
birth
6 August 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Arrowsmith, McLean County, Nebraska -
Hometown
Davenport, Thayer County, Nebraska
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37451532 -
Rank
Private -
Function
unknown -
Unit
H Company,
3rd Battalion,
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
5 October 1944 - Place of
death
Dodewaard, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 21 | 10 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Bert J. Bailey (father)
Allie M. (Troutt) Bailey (mother)
Raymond E. Bailey (brother)
Marion A. Bailey (sister)
Robert L. Bailey (brother)
Roger A. Bailey (brother)
More information
Pvt Bert J. Bailey Jr. enlisted in July 1942 and was sent overseas in September 1943. He participated in the D-Day landing during he was hit between the eyes by shrapnel. For this wound, he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal a first time.During the morning hours the entrenched paratroopers experienced a heavy artillery barrage. Pvt Baily was near the top of the dike when a shell exploded and blew his head off.
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery at Molenhoek, the Netherlands on 27 October 1944. He was disinterred on 25 June 1948 and transported to Margraten where his remains were prepared and placed in a casket on 28 June 1948. He was given his final resting place on 26 January 1949.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ww2-airborne.us, IDPF, www.newspapers.com - Battle Creek Enquirer, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, Deliver us from Darkness - courtesy of Joek Hulsmann
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - Battle Creek Enquirer