Archie and Josephine Bailey, who married in 1905 and made Punta Gorda their home on E. Virginia Ave., raised a large family and emphasized honesty, upright character, and hard work in their children. Of their twelve children, nine lived to maturity: Charles, Maurice, Josephine, Arthur, Paul, Harding, Berlin, Mable, and Carl. When the United States entered World War II and later the Korean War, all of the Bailey brothers answered the call to serve, inspiring their community with their devotion. Maurice M. Bailey served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater as a member of the Red Ball Express, which supplied front line troops with food and ammunition, continued his military service in Korea, retired after a distinguished career, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Berlin J. Bailey served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater with the 3rd Construction Battalion and was at Guadalcanal, then returned to Punta Gorda, established an electrical business that operated for more than 50 years, and served on civic committees. Charles P. Bailey left Bethune Cookman College to study aviation at Tuskegee Institute at the behest of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, became the first black aviator from Florida to become a Tuskegee Airman, attained the rank of First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, flew 133 combat missions in a P-40 Warhawk named for his mother and a P-51 Mustang named for his father, served as an early member of the 99th Fighter Squadron, received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Four Oak Clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the World War II Victory Medal, and after the war moved to Deland, Florida, where he worked in the school system and operated a funeral home. Harding Bailey, an E-5 in the U.S. Navy during World War II, served on the USS Mason in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Theaters and after the war became an educator and retired as a principal in the Brevard County, Florida, School District. Paul Bailey served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a chaplain's assistant for Company D, 2805th Engineering Battalion in the Western Pacific Theater, received the Good Conduct Medal, the APTO Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal, then studied music and taught it in Madison County until retiring in the 1970's and returning to Punta Gorda to live with his widowed mother. Arthur J. Bailey served as a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific Theater, spent time on Iwo Jima, was one of the Montford Point Marines, and after discharge returned to Punta Gorda and worked for the General Development Corporation. Carl A. Bailey, too young to enlist during World War II, attended Florida A&M University, was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, served during the Korean War, became the first black jet pilot in Florida, flew the F-84 Thunderjet in the early 1950's, and died at age 28 in an automobile accident in North Carolina while on leave.