World War II Honoree

Robert Alton Bailey

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Family

ENLISTED 1943 IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN AS A PRIVATE. GRADUATED OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AND WAS COMMISSIONED AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN DECEMBER,1943. GRADUATED MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE, CLASS OF 1944 WITH A CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE. DEPLOYED TO THE 3RD ARMY, 94TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 319TH ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION AND ENTERED FRANCE IN SEPTEMBER 1944 ON UTAH BEACH. WOUNDED IN COMBAT MARCH 19, 1945 FOLLOWING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. RETIRED AS 1ST LIEUTENANT MARCH 1946 FOLLOWING INTERNMENT AND RECOVERY AT PERCY JONES VA HOSPITAL. AWARDED SILVER STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, EUROPEAN THEATER RIBBON WITH THREE BRONZE STARS AND WW II VICTORY MEDAL. RECEIVED CARBINE AND RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP AWARDS. LT. BAILEY'S WIFE, VERNIECE CECILIA BAILEY, WORKED AT THE CHRYSLER TANK ARSENAL IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN FROM 1941 THROUGH 1943.