CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In a ceremony during Homecoming Week, the University Library will honor the only University of Illinois alumnus to receive the Medal of Honor.
Maj. Kenneth D. Bailey of Danville – a 1935 graduate – was awarded the medal posthumously for leading his company in defending an airfield during the Guadalcanal Campaign in September 1942. The Medal of Honor is the highest military service award for valor in action against an enemy force. The ceremony will be at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, in the Marshall Gallery on the first floor of the Main Library, 1408 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana.
Bailey was the commander of Company C, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, when Japanese forces attacked Henderson Field on the island of Guadalcanal. His company was stationed between the main line of fighting and the airfield, and it held off an enemy attack while protecting the U.S. troops fighting along the main line.
Bailey’s Medal of Honor citation reads, in part: “After rendering invaluable service to the battalion commander in stemming the retreat, reorganizing the troops and extending the reverse position to the left, Maj. Bailey, despite a severe head wound, repeatedly led his troops in fierce hand-to-hand combat for a period of 10 hours. His great personal valor while exposed to constant and merciless enemy fire, and his indomitable fighting spirit inspired his troops to heights of heroic endeavor which enabled them to repulse the enemy and hold Henderson Field.”
Bailey was killed by a sniper two weeks later.
Greg Knott, the assistant dean of libraries for business operations, is a history buff with a long interest in military veterans. He learned about Bailey and his actions about 10 years ago when he was researching the Medal of Honor online.
“I just thought that was a very interesting story, and that his name should be known,” Knott said. “His story was lost, in terms of University of Illinois history.”
After seeing a display at the library last year related to military veterans, he asked library officials to consider doing a similar display on Bailey this year. The library created a display that’s been open since the beginning of October and runs through the end of the month.
The display contains Bailey’s Medal of Honor, on loan from the Vermilion County War Museum. The museum also loaned a plaque from a decommissioned destroyer that was named for Bailey.
“He’s a real hero in Danville. His story is very well-known there,” Knott said, adding that the Danville school district’s alternative academy is named for him, as is the Marine Corps League in the city.
The short ceremony Friday will include information about Bailey’s life as a student and in the military. The keynote speaker is Capt. Anthony Corapi, the commanding officer of the U. of I.’s Naval ROTC.
Knott said the display and ceremony were timed to allow alumni returning for Homecoming to be there, as well as leading up to Veterans Day.
