Friday, April 19, 2024
Alden Bailey joined the Marine Corps Reserve in December, 1942. At age 20, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and sent to Guam as an infantry platoon commander in the Third Marine Division.
At the end of World War II, Bailey was transferred to the First Marine Division to participate in Operation Beleaguer in north China.
Upon the arrival of U.S. forces in China, the Communists began to skirmish with the Marines. Bailey was wounded in his tour in China and returned later in 1946 to the United States.
In 1951 Bailey was recalled to active duty for the Korean con-fl ict. Following four months of training, Bailey was assigned to the fi rst Marine Division in Korea as an AMTRAC company commander.
While in Korea, Bailey led his company in off ensive operations against Chinese forces and assisted with the training and organization of the South Korean Marine Corps.
In June 1952, he returned to the U.S. where he was released from active duty.
After returning to the U.S., Bailey remained a member of the Marine Corps Selected and Individual Ready reserve. In this capacity he served in many assignments: Commanding Offi cer 1st Battalion 23rd Marines; 8th Staff Group; VTU 8-2; and VTU 8-22. He was also Chief of Staff of the 21st Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Camp Pendleton.
Col. Bailey retired from the Marine Corps Reserve in 1984 at age 60 with 20 U.S. and foreign awards and campaign medals.
Bailey, of Granbury and Pasadena, died Oct. 4, 2017 at the age of 93.
Information provided by Field of Flags committee.
