14 Draftees Go From County
To Army Induction
Eleventh Call From Selective Service Makes Draft Total 60
Fourteen Cerro Gordo county youths left Mason City early Tuesday morning for Fort Des Moines, where they were to undergo final examination and induction into the army for one year’s duty under the selective service act. . . This shipment brings the total number of draftees from Cerro Gordo county to 60.
. . . Sent by board No. 2: Ralph Bailey, Mason City . . .
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, April 29, 1941, Page 14
Staff Sgt. Ralph Bailey
Killed in Action in Italy
With 34th Division Which Got Training at Camp Claiborne
Staff Sgt. Ralph Bailey, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Bailey, 18 21st S. E., was killed in action in Italy on Feb. 2, according to a telegram his wife, Mrs. Florence Bailey, 108 28th S. W., received from the war department Monday.
“The secretary of war,” read the telegram, signed by the adjutant general, “desires me to express his deep regret that your husband, Staff Sgt. Ralph Bailey, was killed in action in defense of his country on Feb. 2 in Italy. Letter follows.”
Staff Sgt. Bailey had last been heard from in a letter received here about Feb. 8 and written the last part of January. He was with the 34th division that went to Camp Claiborne, La., in April, 1941, and later to Ireland, February, 1942. He was in action in the Tunisian campaign and recently had been with the division in Italy. Besides his wife and parents, Staff Sgt. Bailey is survived by a sister, Irene Bailey.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, February 29, 1944, Page 11 (photo included)
Memorial Service for Sgt.
Ralph Bailey Here Sunday
Patriotic Groups to Participate
At Our Saviour’s Church
Memorial services for Staff Sgt. Ralph Bailey, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Bailey, 18 21st S. E., killed in action in Italy on Feb. 2, will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran church Sunday at 2:30 p. m., with the Rev. Aubrey L. Edmonds, pastor, in charge, and patriotic organizations participating. Service organizations are asked to be present with their colors at 2:15 o’clock.
Staff Sgt. Bailey was born June 29, 1916, and was graduated from the Mason City high school with the class of 1935. On Feb. 24, 1941, he was married to Miss Florence Nesje, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Nesje, 108 28th S. W. He entered service with the U. S. army on April 29, 1941, and took his training at Camp Claiborne, La., later spending a period of training in Ireland before participating in the invasion of Africa. He was a member of the 34th division in Italy at the time of his death.
Besides his wife and parents, Staff Sgt. Bailey is survived by a sister, Irene, Mason City.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Friday, March 10, 1944, Page 11
Contributions to Canteen
in Memory Sgt. Ralph Bailey
Contributions to the Canteen, service men’s center at 15 2nd N. E., Tuesday included several gifts in the memory of S. Sgt. Ralph Bailey, who was killed in action in Italy Feb. 2.
Those included $2 from Mr. and Mrs. John E. Peterson and Kenneth, Forest city; $3 from Mr. and Mrs. William Peterson and Don and $1 from Mr. and Mrs. Edd Elias, and Mrs. Bart Hennagier, S. Sgt. Bailey’s aunt, $3.
Other contributions are: Circle 10 W. S. C. S., First Methodist church, $2; employes (sic) of American Crystal Sugar company, $24.75; Northwestern States Portland Cement employes (sic), $505; Plumbers and Steamfitters local No. 405, $2; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, $5; Women’s auxiliary to Central Labor union, $1; Mason City Fire Fighters association, $2.30; and sugar beet school, $2.50.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Wednesday, March 21, 1944, Page 5
Ralph Bailey was born June 29, 1916 to James and Emma Bailey. He died Feb. 2, 1944 and is buried in Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy. He has a cenotaph in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, IA.
Sgt. Bailey served in World War II with the U.S. Army 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Sources: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
