Earl Eldrige “Bus” Bailey was born on 29 July 1916. His parents, Earl B. and Loretta (Smith) Bailey lived on Learned Street in Framingham. They would later reside at 22 Myrtle Street for several years. Earl E. was a member of the Framingham High School (FHS) Class of 1934. Following graduation,he worked as a technician at the Fidelity Dental Lab on Hollis Street.
On 16 October 1940,Earl registered for the draft. He was not alone; 2,539 other Framingham men registered with him. He enlisted in the Army on 10 January 1942. Earl was selected to be a Medical Technician -- a Medic. His initial assignment was to Company A,First Medical Training Battalion at Fort Devens in Ayer, MA. The First Medical Battalion would soon become the “in-house” (in US Army terms,"organic") medical support for the storied First Infantry Division (1st ID). Medical Detachments were “attached” to each of the Division's Infantry Regiments (in his case,the 16th Infantry). They were responsible for initial medical actions in combat situations,including emergency treatment in the field, collection of battle casualties, and set up of aid stations for triage of the wounded.
\
WWII US Army Technician Rank Chevrons
Tech 5 Tech 4 Tech 3 Tech Sergeant
First Infantry Division 16th Infantry Regiment (16th IR)
Images: United States Army Institute of Heraldry
On 02 August 1942,Earl and the rest of the 1st ID departed for England aboard the RMS Queen Mary. After a period of intensive training and complex maneuvers the 1st would head off for the Invasion of North Africa,or “Operation Torch” (November,1942). Following this baptism of fire and successful amphibious assault the “Big Red One” would play significant roles in the hard-fought Tunisia Campaign (November 1942-May 1943),the Battle of Sicily (“Operation Husky,” July 1943-August 1943) and the Normandy Invasion and Campaign (“Operation Overlord,” 06 June 1944-30 August 1944). The 1st would later participate in the Battle of the Bulge, the Invasion of Germany and the Central Europe Campaign.
During WWII,in 443 days of combat the First ID would suffer 3,616 men Killed in Action (KIA), 15,208 Wounded in Action (WIA), 499 Missing in Action (MIA) and 1,366 taken Prisoner of War(POW) for a total of 20,659 casualties. During the same period, the 16th IR saw 1,400 men KIA and 5,000 WIA.
Troops of the 16th IR head for Omaha Beach, 06 June 1944
Image: US Coast Guard
Earl went above and beyond the call of duty during both amphibious landings. He would receive a Silver Star Medal for gallantry during each operation. The Silver Star is the third-highest military combat decoration that can be awarded to a member of the US Military.
Silver Star Medal
Image: Public Domain
For his first award (North Africa and Sicily) he was cited for consistently risking his life to aid and evacuate wounded soldiers (Source: General Order No 12, Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, 1944). The second award was for his gallantry on D-Day (Normandy, 06 June 1944) where he repeatedly crossed open terrain under heavy enemy fire to treat and rescue wounded soldiers (Source: General Order No 33, Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, 1944). This day was dangerous for all Americans, but perhaps more so for medics. Major Charles Tegtmeyer, the Commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment Medical Detachment stated in his 24 June 1944 After Action Report (provided in Joseph Balkoski’s “Omaha Beach, D-Day,June 6, 1944," pg. 331) ...
“The Geneva Convention is a failure. Many of our wounded aid men were shot intentionally. The white brassard draws fire. The landing craft bringing in the Collection Company, all of whom were wearing brassards,received more direct enemy fire than any other craft. Since the landing on the beach,several aid men have been wounded by sniper fire. The Geneva Convention brassard makes the company aid man’s job the most hazardous in the Army.”
Of note: The 16th Infantry’s D-Day Meritorious Service Unit Commendation would later state...
"Coming in with the initial assault troops, the first section of the detachment established their first aid station on the beach within thirty minutes after “H” hour. Within 90 minutes after the initial assault, four aid stations had been put into operation and the entire detachment was functioning on the beach of Normandy, France. These four aid stations represented the only medical installations in this area for a period of twenty-four hours."
Medics Caring for a Wounded GI--Note Brassards on Left Arms
Image: Public Domain
Tech Sergeant Earl Bailey, Europe 1944-1945
Mr. Earl Bailey
Images: From The Bailey Family Tree (Public), Ancestry.com
The Bailey Family Tree (Public), Ancestry.com
D-Day: The Battle for Normandy, Antony Beevor
The Dead and Those About to Die; D-Day - The Big Red One at Omaha Beach, John C. McManus
The First Infantry Division Museum
Framingham High School
The Military Times, "Hall of Valor"
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
The National World War II Museum
Omaha Beach,D-Day,June 6, 1944, Joseph Balkoski
The Society of the First Infantry Division
The 16th Infantry Regiment Association
The US Army Center of Military History
The US Army Medical Department,Office of Medical History
No comments:
Post a Comment