William W. Bayne Jr.

William W. Bayne Jr. was born in December 1950 in Philadelphia. His father fought in World War II, and his grandfather fought in World War I. When he graduated from high school in 1968, Bayne thought he might join the service, as the Vietnam War was at its height. Instead, he decided to go to college at Delaware State University. Bayne graduated with degrees in history and education and started working as a teacher in Camden. 

By 1979, Bayne was still interested in serving, and he chose to join the National Guard, because it had a program that allowed him to become an officer. His first assignment was in Cherry Hill. Then he attended Officer Candidate School in Sea Girt, a course he felt prepared him well. Bayne remembered that the physical training was a challenge, but he was happy to have completed it. After Sea Girt, he went back to Cherry Hill as a second lieutenant; but, because he wanted to be a cavalry officer, he transferred to the 117th Cavalry armory in Westfield, NJ for five years.

Bayne’s next assignment was the 3rd Battalion of the 102nd Armor Regiment in Vineland, NJ, where he was assigned to headquarters as a Scout Platoon leader. He took the Scout Platoon to Friedburg, Germany, in 1987 on a large maneuver training mission. Bayne recalled Germany as a pretty country, and his time there as a wonderful experience. He then became Executive Officer of the 3rd Battalion’s Company A, before eventually becoming the company’s commander. Bayne finished his National Guard career as commander of Company A in Vineland. He left the National Guard after hearing of unit cutbacks. Since Bayne did not want to be without a military home, he joined the Army Reserves.

In the reserves, Bayne worked with the 2076th Army Reserves Training School, in Wilmington, Delaware, a unit that taught both officers and soldiers. The most important class was “91 Charlie,” a medical program that taught soldiers how to take care of wounded men until help arrived. His job was Supply Officer for the 2076th, where he made sure the unit got whatever it needed for training exercises. Bayne then returned to Fort Dix, to the 78th Battle Projection Group, which created computer simulations of combat. Initially part of a team, he was elevated to Team Leader upon his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.

Bayne volunteered to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He went to Fort Bliss, Texas for two weeks of training, then on to Kuwait before finally arriving in Baghdad, Iraq. His motivation for going to Iraq was to do the best he could to save American lives. On January 29, 2005, a 122 mm rocket landed on the Presidential Palace, US Embassy in Baghdad. LTC Bayne received the Combat Action Badge for being engaged by the enemy during this indirect rocket attack, when he was within the danger close bursting radius of enemy rockets that penetrated the roof of the US Embassy and landed within the confined office space below, inflicting several casualties. His action under fire brought credit to himself, Coalition Joint Task Force – Shield, and the US Army.

While Bayne was in Iraq, he worked with Iraqis and trained security forces for oil and electric companies. He also did a lot of traveling to the Baghdad airport along “Route Irish,” considered the most dangerous highway in the world because of constant IEDs and snipers.

Bayne was in Iraq from January to May 2005, and he spent his spare time in the gym, where he had a bench press accident and almost tore a pectoral muscle. This injury forced him to leave Iraq earlier, and it took a long time to heal. He went to Fort Bliss for rehabilitation. Fortunately, the civilian school he worked for supported him and allowed him to train and leave to fight for his country while retaining his civilian job.

After he recovered from his injury, Bayne returned to the simulation unit, then applied to go overseas again to Afghanistan, yet could not land an assignment. He was originally approved to go to Sudan in 2006 and went with the combined Joint Task Force to Djibouti, where he trained the country’s soldiers. While Bayne was in Djibouti, there was a serious accident where two people were killed, and another two were seriously injured, as well as an incident involving Somali pirates.

After leaving the service, Bayne worked at Loyola University. He said this was one of the best times of his career, as he was working with great kids in the ROTC program. Bayne went to all the commissioning ceremonies from 2011 to 2015. After Loyola, he retired completely. Bayne likes to build plastic models as a hobby. He has not joined any Veterans’ groups, since he did not have the time. Bayne said he now wants to join to aid people coming back from the deployments, including those suffering from PTSD. 

Awards LTC William Bayne received for his service include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medals, National Defense Service Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, an Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, and many more.