|
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MASUM GHAR, Afghanistan (3/26/2012) -
Scanning the Afghanistan terrain from the rear gunner's hatch of an
Army Stryker combat vehicle, Sgt. James Bailey, a cavalry scout with
the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat
Team, 25th Infantry Division is responsible for providing security
for his fellow troopers.
Army Sgt. James Bailey, a Cavalry Scout with the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, enjoys his day patrolling local Villages in Dand
district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, through the gunners hatch
of a Stryker vehicle, Jan. 30, 2012. Photo by Army Pfc. Andrew Geisler |
|
Equipped with a number of specialized weapons, Bailey is ready for
anything his unit may face. For the terrorist he has bullets, for
the local kids walking the streets of Kandahar, Afghanistan, he
carries a couple of their favorites like candy and a sleeve full of
pens.
As a scout, Bailey is working with International
Security Assistance Forces and Afghan National Security Forces to
ensure a brighter future for the people of Afghanistan.
As a
non-commissioned officer with C Troop, 5-1CAV, Bailey's mission is,
in many ways, challenging.
As a leader of soldiers, Bailey
must perform each mission above standard, ensure the safety of his
soldiers and maintain their morale.
It's Bailey's ability to
accomplish the mission while also improving the morale of his
soldiers every day, that has inspired the soldiers he leads. |
"There is never a moment when you will find Bailey that
he doesn't have a smile on his face," said Pfc. Bryan Ward.
"He's the type of friend and NCO that you always want to be
around."
It's important to stay optimistic for the
guys around you, said Bailey.
"I always do whatever I
have to do to keep their morale up."
Recently, Ward,
a fellow cavalry scout, was so impressed by Bailey's
unwavering optimism and morale that he posted the following
on a social networking site: "Sergeant James Bailey, you are
my greatest mentor and good friend. You are what I aspire to
be when I'm an NCO, always happy even when you are in pain,
enduring it so that you can stay with your fellow soldiers
till the end of the deployment."
On Feb. 7, just a
few short days after Ward posted the inspirational words on
Bailey's wall, Ward's Stryker was struck by an improvised
explosive device as his unit made their routine visits to
the local Afghan Police checkpoints throughout the Dand
district, in the southern Kandahar province.
Ward
said he woke up from the blasts a few moments later and
began to perform a head to toe sweep to check for any
injuries when we realized he had multiple injuries.
Despite having a number of broken bones and other injuries
to his arms and face, Ward thought about what his role model
would do and had nothing else to say except "Roll Tide."
"The first thing that popped in my mind was give me more
morphine then I thought 'Roll Tide'," Ward laughed. "Knowing
Sgt. Bailey, it doesn't matter what he's doing or what is
going on around him he's always ready to accomplish the
mission and he always finds a way to be happy...I admired
that."
As unconventional as it may seem the two
simple words "Roll Tide" have long been a way for Bailey to
inspire his soldiers and bring a smile to their face.
Bailey, a Birmingham, Ala., native, inherited the chant
after watching the Alabama football team line up on
Saturdays for college football.
"The only thing he
loves more than his soldiers is the Crimson Tide...and he
will never let you forget it," said Spc. Jason Harris,
longtime friend and fellow cavalry scout.
After
hearing about the events surrounding his son's brush with
death, Wade Ward, Bryan's father, had his own impression of
Bailey's leadership qualities.
"Sgt. Bailey's level
of leadership sets the example for every soldiers," said
Wade. "He goes above and beyond what is expected of him."
Many people would think 'he's just a college
football fan' but he uses something so simple to uplift the
people around him, said Wade Ward. "It speaks volumes about
the types of leaders throughout the unit and I have nothing
but good things to say about Bailey."
Wade added,
that Bailey's positive attitude and his unwavering optimism
helped his son get through a very difficult and painful time
and in many ways the stories of Bailey's 'glass-half full
approach have even changed his outlook on life. According to
Wade, he uses the catch phrase 'Roll Tide' whenever he's
having a bad day.
In a combat environment a bond
like the one that Bailey shared with battle buddies, like
Ward, is often unbreakable.
"Bailey is someone I look
up to and hope to be like when I'm an NCO," said Bryan.
"It made me proud that I made that kind of impression on
someone," said Bailey.
When combined, his love for 'Bama',
his soldiers and overall happiness undoubtedly makes him an
easy favorite for most popular soldier but his enthusiasm
and positive outlook on life isn't the only thing that has
earned him the respect of his soldiers.
Behind the
southern charm and unbreakable smile Bailey often times
fought through unbearable pain to join his battle buddies in
daily operations. For months Bailey was hampered with a
hernia, but instead of getting deployment-ending surgery
Bailey woke up every morning masking the pain with a smile.
"I never have a bad day...I'm always happy," said Bailey
as a smile spread across his face.
After talking to
his commander, the two of them came up with an alternative
option that would allow Bailey to get the surgery he needed
and still rejoin his battle buddies as the 1/25th SBCT
prepares to re-deploy within the next few weeks.
Excited, Bailey said he is already looking forward to using
his recovery as an example of resiliency and dedication and
hopes that he can continue to serve as an example to his
younger soldiers.
"As long as I get to wake up and
see my guys it's a good day," said Bailey.
By Army Sgt. Thomas Duval
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
Comment on this article |
