William Henry Bailey

Corporal William H Bailey, 72, died at the VA hospital in Philadelphia on October 5, 2020 after a long battle with PTSD from the Vietnam War. Mr. Bailey served 2 tours during the Vietnam war as a Corporal where he earned 3 Purple Hearts, a combat infantry badge and a Bronze Star of valor. His “war” didn’t end when he returned stateside because of the trauma he endured there he struggled for many decades with mental health, substance abuse, homelessness and depravity and got very little help from the government who sent him to war at the tender age of 19 years old. He often used humor to deflect the pain that he was in and was one of the funniest people those who know him knew. He cared deeply about and had many good times in life spent with his family and friends but ultimately could not shake the demons that the war imposed on him and eventually was estranged from his family for many years. At the end of his life this HERO was unfortunately living on a bench in front of the Philadelphia VA hospital because that is where he felt safe. The system failed him. We as a society & the VA system in general need to do better for these heroes. He spent some time in a nursing home last year where he was said to be kind and generous with everyone he came into contact with there. Unfortunately, his PTSD made it difficult for him to be confined to this type of environment and he wound up back out on his bench. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry & Bonita Bailey (Jones), his wife Barbara Bailey, his sisters Clarissa (Cris) Stafford & Mary Ann Bailey, his sons Buddy Bailey Jr & Anthony Deserino & his beloved service dog Sundance. He is survived by his children Lisa Enman, Michael Bailey, Leeann Longo & step son Ronald Bailey, life partner of many years Antoinette (Toni) Coia, and his grandchildren Gianna, CJ & Julia Enman, Kristen Henry, Kayla Pratt & Devon Barton & Philomena Bailey. A visitation with his family will be held on Monday, October 19, 2020 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home & Crematory, 441 White Horse Pike, Atco, NJ 08004. Graveside services with Military Honors will be held precisely at 1:30 PM at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Rd., Newtown, PA 18940.