(Note: Because Milton's name is inscribed on two different monuments, he has two Find-a-Grave memorials. The other one has many more photos of Milton and many more flowers, and can be found here.)
Milton was the beloved son and only child of Beatrice "Beaty" Bailey and the grandson of Phebe Bailey. They all made their home at 308 W. High Street, Milford, Pike County, Penna. The house had been purchased by Milton's great-grandmother, Sarah Johnson Davis (1855-1916), with her husband Abraham's Army pension. Abraham had served during the Civil War.
Milton was witty and very popular in elementary and high school. He was on the basketball team and in the Boys' Handicraft Club. He worked at Foster Hill Farm in Milford Township.
But being one of very few African Americans in town was by no means easy. When a robbery occurred, Milton confided to a trusted adult his plan to go to a particular city through swampland to avoid police dog pursuit. The confidante argued that the plan would make Milton look guilty even though he was not. "But I'm the only [n-word]," was Milton's reply. He did flee, but when the actual robber later was apprehended, Milton was able to return home.
Strippel's Drug Store in Milford had a soda fountain which Milton frequented. Whenever Milton would ask for a milkshake, Mr. Strippel would ask what flavor. "Chocolate, just like me!" was always Milton's rejoinder.
Milton enlisted in the U.S. Army, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, and served in the Korean War, rising quickly to the rank of sergeant-first-class. He wrote many letters home to his mother and grandmother.
He was declared missing in action on July 17, 1951, details found here: https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000jMBBqEAO. He was presumed dead on December 31, 1953. Milton's name is inscribed on the National Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. (see photo), and on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.
Curtis James "Kojo" Morrow wrote a memoir, What's a Commie Ever Done to Black People? A Korean War Memoir of Fighting in the U.S. Army's Last All Negro Unit, which he dedicated to Milton, who, Mr. Morrow stated, was his squad leader. (In the book Milton's name and rank were altered, but in a subsequent interview Mr. Morrow identified the service member as Milton.) An excerpt from the book:
[Milton] was killed in a hail of machine-gun fire. All we were supposed to do was make contact with the enemy and get the hell out of there (like we had done together so many times before). The last I remember of him he was standing there firing his carbine and yelling from the pit of his stomach at us (his squad members) to clear the area while he provided cover fire for us.
The brother had saved my life once before. If it hadn't been for him I would have frozen to death the time I fell asleep in sub-zero temperature (35 degrees below). There had been other times too. He had been my first foxhole partner and schooled me and other members of our squad and platoon in the do's and don't's. He was like a big brother to us all, always looking out for the men in his squad. Now he was gone, dead.
Milton was awarded the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the United Nations Service Medal, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Although every year his mother was honored as a Gold Star Mother in Milford's Memorial Day parade and ceremonies, she never gave up hope that one day Milton would return home alive. That did not happen, nor were his remains repatriated. He was the only Milford resident to lose his life in the Korean War.
The 1952 Milford High School yearbook, The Crossroads, was dedicated to Milton: "Milton Bailey was our classmate. He is our friend. To us now he is a symbol of all who serve their country in time of great crisis. We dedicate our yearbook to Milton, to all who gave their lives for democracy."
(Note: A DNA sample is needed from the family. If you feel comfortable providing a Family DNA sample, please call 214-320-0342. They will give you all contact information necessary to provide a Family DNA Sample to the Department of Defense.)
(Note: Because Milton's name is inscribed on two different monuments, he has two Find-a-Grave memorials. The other one has many more photos of Milton and many more flowers, and can be found here.)
Milton was the beloved son and only child of Beatrice "Beaty" Bailey and the grandson of Phebe Bailey. They all made their home at 308 W. High Street, Milford, Pike County, Penna. The house had been purchased by Milton's great-grandmother, Sarah Johnson Davis (1855-1916), with her husband Abraham's Army pension. Abraham had served during the Civil War.
Milton was witty and very popular in elementary and high school. He was on the basketball team and in the Boys' Handicraft Club. He worked at Foster Hill Farm in Milford Township.
But being one of very few African Americans in town was by no means easy. When a robbery occurred, Milton confided to a trusted adult his plan to go to a particular city through swampland to avoid police dog pursuit. The confidante argued that the plan would make Milton look guilty even though he was not. "But I'm the only [n-word]," was Milton's reply. He did flee, but when the actual robber later was apprehended, Milton was able to return home.
Strippel's Drug Store in Milford had a soda fountain which Milton frequented. Whenever Milton would ask for a milkshake, Mr. Strippel would ask what flavor. "Chocolate, just like me!" was always Milton's rejoinder.
Milton enlisted in the U.S. Army, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, and served in the Korean War, rising quickly to the rank of sergeant-first-class. He wrote many letters home to his mother and grandmother.
He was declared missing in action on July 17, 1951, details found here: https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000jMBBqEAO. He was presumed dead on December 31, 1953. Milton's name is inscribed on the National Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. (see photo), and on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.
Curtis James "Kojo" Morrow wrote a memoir, What's a Commie Ever Done to Black People? A Korean War Memoir of Fighting in the U.S. Army's Last All Negro Unit, which he dedicated to Milton, who, Mr. Morrow stated, was his squad leader. (In the book Milton's name and rank were altered, but in a subsequent interview Mr. Morrow identified the service member as Milton.) An excerpt from the book:
[Milton] was killed in a hail of machine-gun fire. All we were supposed to do was make contact with the enemy and get the hell out of there (like we had done together so many times before). The last I remember of him he was standing there firing his carbine and yelling from the pit of his stomach at us (his squad members) to clear the area while he provided cover fire for us.
The brother had saved my life once before. If it hadn't been for him I would have frozen to death the time I fell asleep in sub-zero temperature (35 degrees below). There had been other times too. He had been my first foxhole partner and schooled me and other members of our squad and platoon in the do's and don't's. He was like a big brother to us all, always looking out for the men in his squad. Now he was gone, dead.
Milton was awarded the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the United Nations Service Medal, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Although every year his mother was honored as a Gold Star Mother in Milford's Memorial Day parade and ceremonies, she never gave up hope that one day Milton would return home alive. That did not happen, nor were his remains repatriated. He was the only Milford resident to lose his life in the Korean War.
The 1952 Milford High School yearbook, The Crossroads, was dedicated to Milton: "Milton Bailey was our classmate. He is our friend. To us now he is a symbol of all who serve their country in time of great crisis. We dedicate our yearbook to Milton, to all who gave their lives for democracy."
(Note: A DNA sample is needed from the family. If you feel comfortable providing a Family DNA sample, please call 214-320-0342. They will give you all contact information necessary to provide a Family DNA Sample to the Department of Defense.)
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