Rank: Captain
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 1981 – Air Observation Pilot
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: UH-1D, Pilot
Flight class: 68-522/68-40, Fort Wolters, Texas
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 5-Dec-1942
Hometown: Burlington, Vermont
Marital status: Married to Bonnie J. Bailey
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 23-May-1965
Start of tour: 10-Mar-1969
Incident date: 22-Mar-1969
Date of casualty: 22-Mar-1969
Age at death: 26
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
Kenneth Dean Bailey was killed by hostile small arms fire while pilot of a military aircraft on a military mission. / Pilot of UH-1D aircraft on visual reconnaissance mission when hit by hostile small arms fire. Aircraft did not crash or burn.
Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 600 625
Place of interment: Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont, USA
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DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
POSTHUMOUS
CAPTAIN KENNETH DEAN BAILEY, ARMOR
22 MARCH 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Captain Bailey distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 22 March 1969, while serving as a Pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, while he was conducting a routine reconnaissance mission, his aircraft suddenly began receiving a heavy concentration of enemy anti-aircraft fire from a well-concealed enemy force. Reacting instantly, Captain Bailey expertly guided his aircraft in a low-level assault upon the hostile positions which resulted in three of the enemy being killed and the remainder scattered. Upon observing that one of the enemy had been carrying a sack, he put his helicopter down into an extremely small landing zone in order to retrieve the sack and whatever documents it might contain. When hostile troops concealed in the surrounding undergrowth suddenly opened fire on the friendly aircraft, Captain Bailey immediately directed the fire of his gunners upon the hostile positions and began maneuvering his helicopter out of the landing zone. Before he could get his aircraft to safety, he was mortally wounded by enemy automatic weapons fire. Captain Bailey’s courage and dedication to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 1003 (April 21, 1969)