Millie Bailey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Millie Bailey
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Bailey in 1945
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| Birth name | Vivian Mildred Corbett |
| Born | February 3, 1918 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | May 1, 2022 (aged 104) Ellicott City, Maryland, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
| Unit | Women's Army Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Spouse(s) | William Bailey |
| Other work | Civil servant, volunteer |
Vivian Mildred Bailey (born Corbett; February 3, 1918 – May 1, 2022) was an amazing American woman who lived to be 104 years old! She was a brave veteran of World War II, a dedicated government worker, and a tireless volunteer. Millie, as she was known, helped raise money for schools, hospitals, and people serving in the military. She was also one of the very first African American officers in the Women's Army Corps. Later, she became a director at the Social Security Administration.
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Early Life and School
Vivian Mildred Corbett was born in Washington, D.C., on February 3, 1918. Her mother moved the family to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after Vivian's father went to fight in World War I. Vivian went to schools that were separated by race, known as segregated schools. She even knew the famous historian John Hope Franklin when she was growing up in Tulsa.
Military Service in World War II
Millie Bailey was one of only two Black women to earn a high rank in her officer training class. She became a first lieutenant in the Women's Army Corps in 1943. She served in the army until 1946.
Bailey became the second-in-command of the Women's Colored Detachment at Fort McClellan. Later, she led this all-female group. She was then chosen to attend a special administration course. As one of only two Black women in this class, she did very well. After this, she served in a unit that was not separated by race for the first time.
Millie shared that while she didn't face unfair treatment because she was a woman, the army units were separated by race. She remembered a time when a white woman treated her badly off base. Millie pretended not to notice, because she was worried about her safety. However, she also said that her commanding general, a white man, was very kind to her. At Fort Benning, Millie was a first lieutenant in charge of 144 women.
Life After the Army
After leaving the U.S. Army, Millie Bailey moved to Chicago. She worked for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. She also worked for the Social Security Administration, which helps people with retirement and disability benefits.
In 1970, she moved to the Social Security office in Baltimore. There, she became a division director. She retired from this job in 1975.
Community Work and Volunteering
Millie Bailey was a very active volunteer in her community. She was also a great fundraiser for schools, health, and military groups. Starting in 1966, she collected, packed, and sent special packages called CARE packages to U.S. military members.
From 1982 to 1993, Millie was part of the Maryland Health Resources Planning Commission. She helped approve the first MRI and CT scanners in Maryland. After that, she joined the board of trustees at Howard County General Hospital. She served there for 23 years, until 2015.
Bailey was also a member of the Howard County Police Citizens Advisory Council. From 1999, she worked hard to raise money for Running Brook Elementary School. She often raised over $10,000 each year to help the students.
On October 22, 2020, a special place was named in her honor. It's called the Vivian C. "Millie" Bailey Neighborhood Square and is located on Lake Kittamaqundi.
Personal Life and Later Years
Millie Bailey met her future husband, William Bailey, on April 10, 1943. This was the same day she became an officer in the army. They got married after they both left the U.S. Army. They did not have any children.
In 1970, they moved to Columbia, Maryland, where Millie lived for the rest of her life. She loved to travel and had visited fifty countries by 2013. For her 100th birthday, Millie wished for true equality for all future generations. In 2020, when she was 102 years old, she even went skydiving!
Millie Bailey passed away in Ellicott City, Maryland, on May 1, 2022. She was 104 years old.
Images for kids
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Millie Bailey in 1945
See also
In Spanish: Millie Bailey para niños
