T/5 Wildon Ralston "Buck" Bailey (WWII)


Remembering T/5 Wildon Ralston "Buck" Bailey

August 21, 1918 - January 26, 1945

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T/5 Wildon Ralston "Buck" Bailey (Service Number 35275121) was born August 21, 1918 in Kincheloe, Harrison County, the son of Archibald and Druzilla (Nicholson) Bailey.

Archibald (listed in several places as "Archie") was a farmer (1920 Census) and later a General Store Operator (1930 Census). 

"Buck" graduated from Unidis High School in West Milford in 1937, and by April of 1940 was living in Fairmont with his sister Waveline, her husband, and her son. He is listed as a laborer at "Glass House."

Military Service and Marriage:

He entered the draft on October 16, 1940 in Fairmont, WV. At the time, he worked at the Fairmont Aluminum Co (now Novelis) and lived at 1040 Indiana Avenue. Wildon was 5'8" and 160 lbs with brown hair, brown eyes, and light skin. 

Buck enlisted on February 10, 1942 at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio (Army Enlistment Records). He was a part of the 83rd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Armored Division before being transferred to the "87th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Company A," 7th Armored Divison on May 2, 1943 (Morning Reports: January 1940-1943, pgs 277, 280). 

The 7th Armored Divsion was formed from members of the 3rd and 5th Armored Divisions in May of 1943. The 87th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion became the 87th Calvary Reconnaissance Squad (Mechanized), 7th Armored Division on September 20, 1943. Wildon remained part of  Company/Troop A.

While on 11 day furlough (starting February 23) from where he was stationed at Fort Benning (February 1944 Morning Reports, pg 187), Buck married Marguerite Tenney in Lewis County, WV on February 28, 1944 (WV Marriage Certificate). During WWII, Marguerite worked in Ohio at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base (Findagrave).

The 87th Overseas:

From WWII American Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Profiles (NJ Cavalry and Armor Association)

"Activated as the 87th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion on 1 January 1942 as part of the 7th Armored Division, redesignated as 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron on 20 September 1943. Debarked across Utah Beach on 10 August 1944, entered the line on 14 August in vicinity of La Loupe. Screened advance to Chartres and bridgehead across Seine at Melun. Reached vicinity of Verdun on 1 September. Crossed Moselle River on 15 September. Moved to the Netherlands with rest of division, arriving 29 September. Performed mainly security and defensive missions during fight for Peel marshes in October. Hit hard by German counterattack against division on 27 October. Deployed to St. Vith area in the Bulge on 17 December. Fought to compress Bulge in January."

The 87th's After Action Report for January 1945 states: "In the morning Troop A organized to transport patrols from Monteneau with minimum transportation. A route was reconnoitered and at 1145 the column left Monteneau using armored cars with extra men riding on the outside. The road into Meyerode was exposed, and the enemy brought down accurate observed fire from mortars and artillery and direct fire from at least one piece (believed to be an SP gun), killing one man and wounding another. Arriving in Meyerode at 1330, the vehicles were dispersed and the patrols reorganized. Each patrol had one radio SCR 300, and most of the men had snowsuits" (pg 51). 

On January 30, 1945, Troop A's Morning Report lists Wildon as moving from "duty" to MIA on January 26, 1945 (January 1945 Morning Reports, pg 17). On February 7, 1945, Wildon's status was changed to KIA (February 1945 Morning Reports, pg 5). 

As mentioned in the After Action Report, T/5 Wildon Ralston "Buck" Bailey was killed in action by a shell fragment to his chest on January 26, 1945 (IDPF, pg 47), on the open road from Medell to Meyerode (AAR, pg 51).

Legacy and Survivors:

Originally interred in the Henri-Chapelle Cemetery in Belgium on January 30, 1945, T/5 Wildon Ralston "Buck Bailey" reached his final resting spot at the Mount Lebanon Cemetery on Kincheloe Road in May of 1948.

Buck was survived by his wife, Marguerite, his parents, two brothers, and one sister. His brothers, PFC Leslie "Pete" Bailey (AAC) and Chesley Bailey (Navy), also served during WWII.

He is honored on the "Marion County Veterans Killed in Action" Memorial at Veterans Square in Fairmont, WV, and at the  West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV. 

Special Thanks:

A very huge thank you goes out to Wesley Johnston from 7tharmddiv.org, who took the time to help me locate/ explain in detail the After Action Report that mentions Wildon's death, shared maps of the area, and corrected the errors in this post! I'm so thankful for the 7th Armored Division's website and Mr. Johnston's time and expertise.

Sources and More Information:


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