Alfred George Bailey

Alfred George Bailey’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross: Posthumousy awarded

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Alfred G. Bailey (ASN: 550543), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Moulins, France, 15 July 1918. Sergeant Bailey, unaided, killed two enemy machine gunners and captured a third, together with his machine-gun.

Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 23 February 1892, Hulbert, OK, United States
  • Place of Residence: Hulbert, OK, United States
  • Race/Ethnicity: Native American
  • Death: 21 July 1918 St. Mihiel, France
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Sergeant
  • Company: [E]
  • Infantry Regiment: 38th
  • Division: 3rd

Personal Narrative

Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

Alfred George Bailey was born to George (1861-1927) and Sarah Elizabeth Hair (1865-1918) in Hulbert, Oklahoma, the second of nine children from George’s first wife. The family lived in Eli and Talehquah; in 1910, Alfred attended Haskell Indian School (now Haskell Indian Nations University) in Lawrence, Kansas to take courses in the ninth grade Commercial Department, which focused on typing and business courses.

Bailey married Ella Elizabeth Brown (1895-?), New York native, on 6 March 1918 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina.

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Bailey may have had service as early as the Pancho Villa Expedition in 1916-1917; dates and details are unconfirmed at this time.

Bailey’s enlistment date/place for World War I is currently unknown; he was assigned as a Private to Co. E, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division, and shipped to France on 29 March, 1918 aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Mount Vernon. Private Bailey was temporarily declared AWOL, but was soon reunited with his unit.

Then-Sergeant Bailey received the Distinguished Service Cross and Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm for his actions near Moulins, France on 15 July 1918;

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Alfred G. Bailey (ASN: 550543), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F., near Moulins, France, 15 July 1918. Sergeant Bailey, unaided, killed two enemy machine gunners and captured a third, together with his machine-gun.

Service: Act of Valor Toggle Accordion

Sergeant Alfred George Bailey served in Company [E], 2nd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 6th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd “Rock of the Marne” Division during the time of his act of valor on 15 July 1918. The following is his story:

(Near) Moulins, France – 15 July 1918

To understand the adversity that Sergeant Bailey faced during his act of valor, it is important to understand the prelude to the date of his act and how Sergeant Bailey’s actions are both heroic and selfless:

On 8 July 1918, the 3rd Division became the easternmost division of the French XXXVIII Corps, after the French 125th Division became a part of the French III Corps but remained directly to the east of the 3rd Division. Meanwhile, the German 10th Landwehr Division held the front opposite of the 3rd Division were at a disadvantage given that the only available rail communications available to them was a railroad that ran through the town of Soissons. This was problematic as Soissons was located on the western face of the Marne Salient and too close to the Allied lines to be of use. A month earlier, the Germans attempted to widen the Marne Salient toward the west and bring their lines closer to Paris, but the attack between Montdidier and Noyon, about 35 kilometers northwest of Soissons, had failed. The German rail communications had become cut off by its failure and the Germans were forced to develop a new strategy.

Reims, France. The destroyed Cathedral of Reims can be see in the upper left portion. – Circa 1916.

After their failure, the Germans in the Marne Salient made tenacious plans to improve their situation by widening the eastern portion of the salient. It was decided for two attacks to be launched then converge, with one attack east of Reims in the direction of Chalon-sur-Marne, located just east of Epernay, and another attack southwest of Reims in the direction of Epernay. The attacks would converge to pivot the Allied positions at Reims on both flanks, and if successful, split the French forces defending Paris from the forces defending Verdun. Subsequently, if all went according to plan, the Germans would gain a dominating position over the French and railroad communications through the city of Reims.

Unfortunately for the Germans, a sufficient number of American troops had arrived along the Western Front to allow the Allies to assume offensive operations as well. As the Germans planned their offensive, the Allies had also been planning an attack in the Marne Salient to take advantage of the lack of German rail communications. As a part of the prospective Allied offensive, the French Tenth Army was designated to spearhead the assault in an eastward direction south of Soissons with the intent of cutting off the remaining German communications through the city.

In conjunction with the French Tenth Army’s attack, the French Fifth Army was to attack the eastern face of the Marne Salient, while the French Sixth Army would attack between the French Tenth and Fifth Armies to apply pressure along the tip of the salient and support the French Tenth Army to their left. Ultimately, it was decided that a number of American divisions were needed to carryout these offensive actions with the French.

14 July 1918

Map showing the Marne (located west of Reims) – Champagne (located east of Reims) offensive of the Imperial Germany Army plans to encircle Reims.

As the Allies made their attack plans, the German plans had been discovered from German prisoners that were captured early in the evening of 14 July 1918 by the French Fourth Army. Subsequently, the Allies decided that their original plans of assault would need to be adjusted into a defense followed by a strong counterattack against the German offensive. The Allies would draw the Germans into the salient, weaken their forces, then commence a strong counterattack along the eastern portion of the Marne Salient.

However, when the American and French began their preparations, the Germans had observed suspicious behavior developing along their planned assault routes. The Americans and French had begun building outposts and other defensive measures, and a large concentration of Allied forces had been observed. Meanwhile, the French Fourth Army sent orders to the 3rd Division’s 3rd Field Artillery Brigade to begin an artillery barrage on the German lines.

At 2345 hours (11:45 P.M.),the 3rd Division commenced a 30-minute artillery counter-preparation against any possible routes of approach for the Germans along the Marne River. The Germans had realized that their plans were likely discovered once the Allied artillery opened fire on them. Regardless, the Germans’ hubris made them believe that they would still overwhelm the Allied forces due to the mistaken belief that the Allied reserves were too depleted to provide a successful resistance.

-15 July 1918-

The 3rd Division was holding a 10-kilometer front along the Marne River with all of its infantry regiments in line. At 0010 hours (12:10 A.M.) the Germans launched their offensive that would set off the Second Battle of the Marne (15 July to 6 August 1918), and for the next three days, the 3rd Division would partake in the fierce fighting of the Champagne-Marne Defensive (15 to 18 July 1918).

As Imperial German cannons thundered, the ground was shaken, set aflame, and torn apart by their chaotic explosions falling on the Allied lines, the 38th Infantry Regiment was located near the town of Moulins, France. The 38th Infantry Regiment was part of a series of strongpoints built in the area of the railroad track along the Marne River. The Allied positions of resistance included two defensive lines known as the ‘Aqueduct Line’ located on the northern slope of the hills that overlooked the Marne River, and the ‘Woods Line’ that ran through the Janvier Ferme – le Souvrien Ferme – le Rocq Ferme et Chateau – Fontaine aux Charmes. Meanwhile, the final line of resistance was still being organized by the French Sixth Army.

On 15 July 1918, the Imperial German Army launched a major offensive along the western flank which crossed the Marne River near Mezy and Varennes, along the frontlines of the U.S. 30th and 38th Infantry Regiments of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. The Germans entered the sector with two divisions with the intent of piercing the front along the 3rd Infantry Division.

The 38th Infantry Regiment assigned Companies [E], [F], [G], and [H] to the outpost zone, and Companies [B] and [D] placed in the Aqueduct Line. The remainder of the 38th Infantry Regiment, excluding Companies [A] and [C] placed with the 30th Infantry Regiment, was placed in the Woods Line. Elements from the 9th Machine-Gun Battalion and the 6th Engineers were distributed throughout the 6th Infantry Brigade to provide support to the 30th and 38th Infantry Regiments.

A German Grenadier with stick grenades – Circa 1915

The German 10th Landwehr Division remained in place as the German 36th and 10th Divisions passed through its lines and crossed the Marne River. The 128th Infantry Regiment, 5th Grenadiers supported by the 175th Infantry Regiment made up the 10th Divisions assault line and was the western element of the German attack in the 3rd Division’s sector. The 6th Grenadiers, 398th Infantry Regiment supported by the 47th Infantry Regiment composed the 36th Division’s assault line and was the eastern element in the German attack.

The German 10th Division was under orders to cross the Marne River in front of Mezy and Le Ru Chailly Ferme along the western flank of the 38th Infantry Regiment’s position, with plans to outflank Fossoy from the east to capture Bois d’Aigremont. Meanwhile, the German 36th Division was ordered to cross the Marne east of Courtemont-Varennes and west of Varennes in a southwesterly direction. The section of assault for the German 36th Division was located just east of the area that Sergeant Bailey’s 38th Infantry Regiment was organized for defending.

At 0150 hours (1:50 A.M.), the Germans began construction of bridges and ferries to cross the Marne River as the Allied lines continued to get hammered by the non-stop explosions of German artillery. The German infantry was planning to advance from the railroad and cross the bridges and ferries at 0350 hours (3:50 A.M.) behind a rolling barrage to protect their infantry from the Allied defenses. Despite the massed artillery fire and the whizzing bullets that screamed past the men of Company [E] on the eastern portion of the 3rd Divisions’ boundary, Sergeant Bailey and his company defeated all attempts by the German 36th Division to cross the Marne River along its front. However, the French 125th Division was less successful and the 36th Division managed to cross the Marne along the French division’s front.

By 0400 hours (4:00 A.M.), the German 5th Grenadier Regiment rapidly advanced in southward and were located just southwest of Varennes. The 5th Grenadier Regiment advanced along the road and around the foot of the hill just east of Moulins, positioning themselves behind Company [E] of the 38th Infantry Regiment, which was now sandwiched between the elements of the German 36th Division. At 0430 hours (4:30 A.M.), Company [F] of the 30th Infantry Regiment advanced to meet the German 5th Grenadier Regiment where a series of counterattacks were commenced. Finally, after several attempts, Company [F] was able to push the Germans back and succeeded in holding the hill east of Moulins.

The Germans continued to press in a southward direction and at 0515 hours (5:15 A.M.) Company [B] of the 38th Infantry Regiment ordered units to be ready for immediate action near Paroy, about 1 kilometer south of Moulins. Similar to a game of tug-of-war, the fighting continued throughout the day between the various elements of the 3rd Division, with the Germans gaining ground then the Americans taking it back. By 1420 hours (2:20 P.M.), the exhausted elements of the 2nd Battalion were ordered by the 38th Infantry Regiment to withdrawal to the Aqueduct Line, and place two companies along Le Surmelin Ruisseau facing eastward.

A German machine-gun team in a water filled shell hole

German artillery shells poured as heavily as the rain on the 38th Infantry’s position, shaking the ground and causing deafening noise as bullets ripped chaotically in all directions. Through the dense smoke carried by the blustering wind, Sergeant Alfred George Bailey barely saw a group of Germans approaching his position. Without help from his comrades, he dashed through the thick mud and killed two German machine-gunners while capturing a third. His German prisoner still carrying the weapon he had used to assault Sergeant Bailey and Company [E].

A German prisoner emerges from a camouflaged position during the Second Battle of the Marne.

Throughout the early afternoon, on the right flank of the 3rd Division, the action of the 38th Infantry Regiment threatened the success of the German 36th Divisions right flank.  With three regiments in line, the German 36th Division, the Germans continued to push Company [E] and the rest of the 38th Infantry Regiment defending the sector. The Germans were unable to break the defensive front of the 38th Infantry, and around 1400 hours (2:00 P.M.), the German 398th Infantry Regiment of the German 36th Division withdrew to the railroad along the Marne River, established outposts, and was joined by other elements of the German 36th Division. 

The withdrawal was made in two groups at 1430 hours (2:30 P.M.). The first group consisted of Company [H], followed by Company [G], in movements to the south along Le Surmelin Ruisseau, where they took position along the stream in an area near Paroy. The second group consisted of Sergeant Bailey’s Company [E], which retired up the slopes east of Moulins to positions with Companies [B] and [F] on the Aqueduct Line. By the end of the night, the 2nd Battalion of the 38th Infantry Regiment was so depleted of resources and exhausted from nearly 13-hours of continuous fighting, that the 3rd Division ordered it to move into Division Reserve at 2300 hours (11:00 P.M.). In compliance to the orders, the units of the 398th Infantry Regiment withdrew at different time, with Sergeant Bailey’s Company [E] falling back on 16 July 1918 at 1300 hours (1:00 P.M.).

Engineers of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division preparing to cross the Marne River near Mezy, France. July 1918 – Photo Credit: National Archives, Washington D.C.

Although the Second Battle of the Marne had just begun, the American 3rd Infantry Division was establishing itself as one of the most rugged divisions in all of the Allied forces. Due to its ability to fight off the Germans, as well as its actions throughout the Second Battle of the Marne, the 3rd Division earned the nickname as the “Rock of the Marne” Division. Given the successful counteroffensive launched by the Allied forces, the Germans were forced to abandon any gains made during their offensive.

 

 

For his extraordinary heroism during his unaided fight whereby Sergeant Alfred George Bailey killed two German machine-gunners and captured a third, Sergeant Bailey receive the Distinguished Service Cross under General Orders Number 32 (1919).

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Sergeant Bailey died of wounds received in action on 21 July 1918; details of the wound and treatment are unknown at this time. He was initially buried in the American Cemetery at Jouy-sur-Morin (Meuse Department), France, on the date of his death. Bailey was disinterred and reburied in the IOOF Cemetery in Hulbert, Oklahoma, in a section with his extended family.