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BAILEY Robert A
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| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 35061983 | |||||||||||
| AGE | 20 yo | |||||||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH | 5 november 1923 | |||||||||||
| STATE | Lorain OHIO | |||||||||||
| FAMILY | Parent : Jacob & Ella BAILEY Sister: Lenore C BAILEY | |||||||||||
| RANK | PFC | |||||||||||
| FONCTION | Infantry | |||||||||||
| JOB before ENLISTEMENT | Musician Professional in the BILL OF BARDO BAND |  | ||||||||||
| DATE of ENLISTEMENT | 10 May 1943 Cleveland OHIO | |||||||||||
| COMPAGNIE | Company L | |||||||||||
| REGIMENT | 314th Infantry Regiment | |||||||||||
| DIVISION | 79th Infantry Division " Cross of Lorraine Division " | |||||||||||
| DATE OF DEATH | July 8, 1944 |  | ||||||||||
| STATUS | KIA | |||||||||||
| PLACE OF DEATH | Vicinity of La Haye du Puits | |||||||||||
| CEMETERY TEMPORARY |
Blosville N°3508
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| CEMETERY | NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY | |||||||||||
| GRAVE |
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| DECORATION |
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| STORY | ||||||||||||
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Robert Bailey joins Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
He then is drafted into the 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, the famous «Cross of Lorraine» Division at Camp Pickett, Virginia.
A long-lasting and hard training period will follow. On April 7, 1944, the division leaves the USA from Camp Myles harbor, Standish – Boston and sails towards England aboard the USS Cristobal and the HMS Strathmore. On April 14, the HMS Strathmore moors in Liverpool, and on April 16, the USS Cristobal reaches Glasgow harbor, Scotland. 
Private First Class Robert BAILEY and the 314th Infantry Regiment settle at Goldbourne Park, in Newton the Willows, between Liverpool and Manchester, as well as at Tatton Park, near Knutsford. The amphibious training period , with a view to the landing, starts. On June 13, 1944 the 314th Infantry Regiment embarks from Southampton towards the coasts of Normandy. On June 14, 1944 the 314th Infantry Regiment soldiers walk upon French soil at Utah Beach. The 79th Infantry Division gathers near Carentan. As soon as June 19, the 79th Infantry Regiment takes part in the fighting for the Liberation of Valognes, attacking to the west and north-west of this town, as well as south of Cherbourg. After some bitter fighting, the «Boys» of the 79th Infantry Division seize the Fort du Roule and enter Cherbourg on June 25. It leaves the sector of Cherbourg on June 28.
The division would suffer more the 2300 casualties, died or wounded in 24 days. Brought under VIII US Army Corps' command, the 79th Infantry Division takes part, from July 3 onwards, in the offensive towards La Haye du Puits. 
Gone from Portbail, the division must move along the Barneville – La Haye du Puits road with as a final objective the town of Lessay and the Ay valley. It seizes the Mont de Doville during the night of July 3 to July 4 but find itself stopped before La Haye du Puits. Robert would lose his life during this battle. The 79th Infantry Regiment is among the most engaged American units in World War 2. During its advance through France and Germany, it suffers 20 000 casualties among them are 2 000 killed. The Germans would describe this division as «one of the most ready to fight in the whole US Army». | ||||||||||||
| INFORMATION SOURCE | Pascale GOTTERAND Phil JACKSON (Fils d'un soldat du 79th Infantry Division, 314thInfantry Regiment) Livre: 21st Army Group (HEIMDAL) |
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| PROGRAMMER | Frédéric & Renaud |