Corporal Bailey was a member of the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 2 September 1950 and returned to duty on 28 October 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 6 February 1951.

Bailey was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.