World War II Honoree

Autry H. Hailey

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Covington, Virginia

Honored By

Velma H. Morgan

Relationship

Daughter

INDUCTED APRIL 20, 1944 AT FORT MEADE, MARYLAND. HE ATTENDED ARTILLERY SCHOOL AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA AND ADVANCED INFANTRY TRAINING AT CAMP MOXEY, TEXAS. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. DEPARTED THE U.S. DECEMBER 12, 1944. ARRIVED IN BELGIUM ON DECEMBER 20, 1944 AND IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED TO COMBAT DUTY IN FRANCE WHERE HE SERVED WITH THE ANTI-TANK COMPANY OF THE 394TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION. HE AND THE OTHER 'BATTLE BABIES' OF THE 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION SPENT 151 DAYS IN COMBAT. PARTICIPATED IN BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS AT ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE AS RIFLEMAN AND HEAVY MACHINE GUNNER. THE 99TH INFANTRY WAS IN COMBAT ACTION IN EARLY NOVEMBER DEFENDING THE RUHR RIVER. THE THIN 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION ENCOUNTERED HEAVIER RESISTANCE ALONG THE SIEGFRIED LINE IN DECEMBER. DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, THE DIVISION REPELLED REPEATED VIOLENT GERMAN ATTACKS ON ELSENBORN RIDGE. THEIR ATTACKS TOWARD THE MONSCHAU FOREST BROUGHT THEM AS THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION TO CROSS THE REMAGEN BRIDGE, CAPTURE GISSEN AND ASSAULT FINAL GERMAN RESISTANCE IN THE RUHR POCKET. THE 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION ADVANCED ACROSS THE DANUBE RIVER TO GEISENHAUSEN ON V-E DAY AND REMAINED IN EUROPE ON OCCUPATION DUTIES UNTIL RETURNING TO THE U.S. HE WAS AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND QUALIFIED FOR THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR SERVICE WHILE PARTICIPATING WITH HIS UNIT IN ACTIVE GROUND COMBAT UNDER HOSTILE FIRE AGAINST ENEMY GROUND FORCES. HE ALSO EARNED THE ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON, WWII VICTORY RIBBON, AMERICAN THEATER SERVICE RIBBON AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. HE DEPARTED EUROPE OCTOBER 12, 1945; ARRIVED IN THE U.S. OCTOBER 23, 1945 FOR AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE AT FORT GEORGE MEADE, MARYLAND ON OCTOBER 29, 1945. HE HONORABLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY 7 MONTHS AND 28 DAYS IN CONTINENTAL SERVICE AND 10 MONTHS AND 12 DAYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE.