25- CIB earned in the Battle for Grenada- Don Bailey
25- Don Bailey, an Airborne Combat Infantryman who earned his CIB in Grenada [49:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadIn this episode of the H21 Southern Branch – Austin, Texas, Chapter of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, we continue our interview series with soldiers who have earned their CIBs in various campaigns of the 20th Centrury. We are especially fortunate to have interviewed Don W. Bailey, a combat infantryman who was also an AIRBORNE PARATROOPER in the 82nd Airborne Division during his 21 years of service.
Don Bailey participated as a combat infantryman during the Grenada Campaign in 1983- also known as “Operation Urgent Fury.”.
As you will hear in this audio episode, there is a cross-reference to an earlier podcast episode for the CIB (episode 23, earlier) that dealt with the audio version of the VFW Magazine article titled “The Battle for Grenada – the Army Reborn.” In particular, Don Bailey affirms the different types of snafus that occured during the week-long campaign. And that included the communications incompatibility problems, the inter-branch rivalries between different branches of the military, and the lack of sophisticated military intelligence.
However, one thing was certain — the fact that these Airborne Infantrymen from the 82nd Airborne Division (as well as the Ranger Batallion and others who fought in this campaign) went into harm’s way. Case in point– as you can see from the photo below, there were casualties that result from hostile fire from the Cubans, Russian advisors and other enemy in this small island, and, yes, our men did go into harm’s way.
Notice that the first 2 KIAs from the 82nd Airborne during the assault came from B Co. 2nd Batallion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Don Bailey, our interviewee, was in the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He was a team leader that followed his orders, took care of his men and accomplished the mission.
Although this interview is 45 minutes long, it is extremely informative and interesting–from the point of view of a paraticipant combat infantryman. A couple of things you may note from the audio episode–
- The media and press tried to show only the negative side against the US and did not support the mission;
- This was the first time that the 82nd Airborne Division infantry utilized the kevlar helmets, after they had given up their prior steel pot helmtes that were previously used during Vietnam); and
- This was the first time that a combat campaign utilized the Blackhawk helicopters for transporting infantry troops to make contact with sighted enemy: for instance, the 82nd Airborne Infantry soldiers would be transported by helicopter to engage the enemy when sighted on another part of the island.
And finally, Don Bailey also mentions the welcomed support from the local people of Grenada with the 82nd Airborne troops.
For additional material on Operation Urgent Fury (the Grenada campaign), you may wish to refer to episode 23.
All in all, we thank Don Bailey for his service and for his participation in the Battle for Grenada.
Airborne! All the Way!
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