Corporal Bailey was a member of the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 30 November 1950 and returned to duty on 29 December 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 9 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.