Each month, SylacaugaNews.com and Yea!106.5 feature a veteran online and on-air, honoring them for their service to our country. Presented by Radney-Smith Funeral Home, the SylacaugaNews.com and Yea!106.5 Veteran of the Month for September is Keith Bailey.
*note Q is abbreviated for questions asked to Bailey. A is abbreviated for Bailey’s answers.
Q: State your full name
A: Keith L. Bailey
Q: Date of Birth
A: I was born in July of ‘57
Q: What was your job/branch of service?
A: I was an aircraft electrician on CH53s in the US Marine Corps.
Q: What was your rank?
A: When I got out I was an E4, corporal.
Q: When did you serve?
A: I served from 1975-1979 on active duty.
Q: Where did you serve?
A: I spent over 21 months overseas, most of that was in Okinawa, Japan at Fatima Air Station.
Q: What’s something you remember most about your time serving?
A: One of the things I enjoyed most was meeting the population there—that was real interesting.
Q: If you could say anything to those who want to serve, what would you tell them?
A: For those that are interested in going in, plan ahead, try to get the field that you would have the aptitude for, and if you don’t plan on making it a career, do something that you can transfer to civilian life afterwards.
Q: If you could, would you do it again and why?
A: I’d definitely do it again if I had to, even now, I’d still go and do my job if I was called up.