Chester County Hall of Heroes: Melvyn Evans Bailey

Melvyn Evans Bailey was the son of George and Marguerite Bailey: born on December 5, 1913. He was raised on the family homestead on Landenberg Rd, in Landenberg, PA. One of 14 children, having five brothers and eight sisters. Two sisters and a brother died in childhood. Melvyn, who was known as Evans, attended schools in Landenberg, Avon Grove, and Kennett Square. At Kennett, he played soccer and was on the track team. He was a member of the first graduating class at Kennett Consolidated High School in 1932. He was also a member of the Landenberg Methodist Church. After graduation, Evans attended what was then Goldey Business College in Wilmington Delaware. He was later employed as an agent by the New York Life Insurance Company.

In January 1941, Evans was called into the Army among the first group from Chester County, drafted in an unprecedented peacetime draft. (The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940.) He received his basic training at Camp Devens in Massachusetts, and advanced training at Fort Drum in New York. He participated in maneuvers in the Mojave Desert in California.

Evans was sent overseas in 1943 and served with the 4th Armored Division, and received further training in England.

Map of Normandy Region .

His Division landed at Utah Beech, Normandy in July 1944

Map if Metz/Saar Basin Region

Evans fought in the battles of St. Lo, France, Saar Basin, and Metz, Germany.

He was killed on November 25, 1944 during the battle of Metz, just prior to the Battle of the Bulge.

8th Tank Battalion Logo Tanks of the 4th Armored Division At that time, he was a tank commander and first Sergeant of Company B, 8th Tank Battalion of the 4th Armored Division in the Third Army.

He received five Bronze Stars, and a Silver Star as well as a Purple Heart. He had had been recommended for a battlefield commission as a 2nd lieutenant but was killed before he was promoted.

Evans is buried in Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square. Two sisters - Phyllis and Bernice, were Army Nurses during World War II. Two brothers also served during the war: Charles, in Europe with the Army Engineers and Rodger, in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific. Three brothers-in laws were in the Army during the war. An older brother, Calvin, served in the Army prior to the war, and a younger brother Paul, joined the Army later.

Credits:

Researched and written by: Don Wambold WCMSC member
Tank photo and insignia courtesy of 4th Armored Division web site.
Maps courtesy of: www.fourtharmored.com
Photo retouching/enhancement: Dave Williams (Original portrait of Melvyn Evans Bailey did not show complete rank insignia.)