World War II Honoree

James Leon Bailey

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Spicewood, Texas

Honored By

Wayne Wall

Relationship

Friend

ENTERED SERVICE MARCH 30, 1944. TRAINED IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SHIPPED OUT ON USS FRANKLIN (CV-13) TO PEARL HARBOR, AND BARBER'S POINT TERRITORY OF HAWAII. SPECIALTY WAS AVIATION ORDNANCE. WAS ABOARD ON MARCH 19, 1945, WHEN LESS THAN 60 MILES FROM THE JAPANESE MAINLAND WITH A FIGHTER SWEEP OVER HONSHU, A JAPANESE PLANE CAME OUT OF THE CLOUDS OVER THE FLIGHT DECK AND DROPPED TWO SEMI-ARMOUR PIERCING BOMBS. THE RESULTING DAMAGE AND FIRES THREATENED SURVIVAL. HE HELPED FIGHT THE FIRES AND WAS ONE OF THE SURVIVORS. THE SHIP LIMPED BACK TO PEARL HARBOR, AND HE WAS DETACHED TO SAND ISLAND, ON MIDWAY ISLAND AND CONTINUED IN ORDNANCE UNTIL WAR'S END. WITH 23 MONTHS OVERSEAS DUTY HE WAS DISCHARGED AT CAMP WALLACE, TEXAS, MAY 6, 1946 AS SEAMAN FIRST CLASS.