World War II Honoree

William Henry Bailey, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Mosley Hall, Florida

Honored By

William David Wilson, American Legion Post 68

He enlisted in the U.S. NAVY on 30 October 1943. He was assigned to the USS LATIMER APA-152 and participated during her commissioning ceremonies on 28 August 1944. He participated in the Leyte Operation and the Okinawa operation. During the Okinawa operation, the Latimer debarked troops of the 96th Infantry Division for the first wave against beaches Brown 1 and 2, then remained in the inner transport area to discharge troops and cargo. She successfully repelled a Japanese aerial attack at dawn 3 April, the kamikaze hit so close to the stern that it knocked the packing loose from around the propeller shaft, and as the shaft turned it all came out and the Latimer was taking enough water that the bilge pumps had to be used, she completed unloading operations the following morning and departed Okinawa the 5th sailing to Pearl Harbor for repairs. He served aboard the USS Latimer from her commissioning to the end of WWII.