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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Bailey, Kenneth Dillon |
| Date of birth: | October 21st, 1910 (Pawnee/Oklahoma, United States)
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| Date of death: |
September 27th, 1942 (Henderson Field/Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, British Commonwealth)
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| Nationality: |
American |
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MEDAL OF HONOR - NAVY/MARINE CORPS (MOH)
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Rank:
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Major
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Unit:
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Company C, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, attached to 1st Marine Division "The Old Breed", U.S. Marine Corps
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Action:
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Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 21 October 1910, Pawnee, Okla. Appointed from: Illinois. Other Navy awards: Silver Star Medal.
Citation:
For extraordinary courage and heroic conduct above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of Company C, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, during the enemy Japanese attack on Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 12-13 September 1942. Completely reorganized following the severe engagement of the night before, Maj. Bailey's company, within an hour after taking its assigned position as reserve battalion between the main line and the coveted airport, was threatened on the right flank by the penetration of the enemy into a gap in the main line. In addition to repulsing this threat, while steadily improving his own desperately held position, he used every weapon at his command to cover the forced withdrawal of the main line before a hammering assault by superior enemy forces. After rendering invaluable service to the battalion commander in stemming the retreat, reorganizing the troops and extending the reverse position to the left, Maj. Bailey, despite a severe head wound, repeatedly led his troops in fierce hand-to-hand combat for a period of 10 hours. His great personal valor while exposed to constant and merciless enemy fire, and his indomitable fighting spirit inspired his troops to heights of heroic endeavor which enabled them to repulse the enemy and hold Henderson Field. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
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Details:
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Awarded posthumously.
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Provide alterations or additional information |
| Picture source: |
- Home of Heroes
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| Information source(s): |
- Jordan, Kenneth N., Yesterday’s Heroes – 433 men of World War II awarded the Medal of Honor 1941-1945, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., USA, 1996
- McMillan, G., The Old Bree – A History of the First Marine Division in World War II, The Battery Press, Nashville, USA, 2001
- Wikipedia
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