PFC Harold (also Hairold) Wilburn Dailey was the son of Henry H. Dailey and Maude Walker.
He was killed in action.
Mother: Mrs. Maud Dailey, Copperhill, TN.
The Chattanooga Daily Times, 2 December 1943
Pfc. Harold W. Dailey of the U.S. Marine Corps, a son of Mrs. Maude Dailey of near here, was killed in action on last Armistice Day, Nov. 11, his mother was officially notified today. The telegram signed by Lt. Gen. Thomas R. Holcomb, commandant of the marine corps, requested that she not make public the name of his ship or station at the time of his death. No details were given. Only 20 years old at the time of his death, Dailey enlisted in the marines in 1940 at the age of 17. He was last here in June, 1942. Others serving in the marine corps with Daily from Copperhill were C.B. Collis and Arnold Chastain.
A son of the late Henry Dailey, the young marine is survived by his mother, three sisters and three brothers, including Cpl. Trammell Dailey of Camp Gordon, Ga. Before enlisting he was employed by the Copperhill Grocery Company.
The Copper City Advance, December 3, 1943
Mrs. Maude Dailey, who resides in the Harpertown section of McCaysville, received a message Saturday that her son, Pfc. Harold W. Dailey, U.S. Marine Corps, was killed in action Nov. 11, Armistice Day. Pfc. Dailey, who was 20 years old last June, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Sept. 18, 1940, when the United States was building an army for defense. He last visited his mother in June, 1942 – his only leave since entering service. His address was through the postmaster in San Francisco. He served on board ship with two other local boys, C.B. Collis, son ofMr. and Mrs. Lum Collis and Arnold Chastain, brother of Willie Chastain. Before entering service, Pfc. Dailey was employed by the Copperhill Grocery Co.
The Copper City Advance, January 21, 1944
Mrs. Maude Dailey of McCaysville has received a package containing the personal effects of her son, Pfc. Harold W. Dailey, who was killed in action in November in the South Pacific battle area. Mrs. Dailey also received the following letter from Harold’s commanding officer, Lt. H.H. Barnes:
“Dear Mrs. Dailey,
A letter of this sort is very difficult to write. I know that mere words cannot do much to ease the sorrow caused by the death of your son. Pfc. Dailey was in my platoon ever since I joined the company and I admired him as a marine and, what is more important, as a man. It is men like him that make the marine corps the fine outfit it is and I was just proud to have him in my platoon.
Your son was killed the night of November tenth, in an enemy bombing attack. He died almost instantly and suffered no pain. I can personally assure you that everything possible that could be done, was done. He was given proper burial and is now resting in the marine cemetery in Bougonville. I wish to express my heartfelt sympathy for your loss. If there is anything that I can do please do not hesitate to call on me.”
Sincerely, H.H. Barnes, st Lt. U.S.M.C.R.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 4 June 1922
- Date of death: 11 November 1943
- County: Polk
- Hometown: Copperhill
- Service Branch: Marine Corps
- Division/Assignment: 3rd Marine Division
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Mount View Cemetery, Copperhill, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVI, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Harold W. Dailey
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