Bayless Honored With Military Retirement Ceremony
Mary Jane (Roensch) Bayless- Henning of La Grange, attended a retirement ceremony for her son, Col. Kyle Bayless, in The Netherlands on October 4. Her husband, Richard Henning, also attended.
Kyle is a 1990 graduate of La Grange High School and also the son of the late Keith Bayless (a ‘66 LHS grad). Keith served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 until 1971.
Kyle’s wife Rebecca is also a military veteran, having served in the U.S. Army from 1996 until 2004, retiring as a Captain.
Here’s a Biography of Bayless that was included at this ceremony: Colonel Kyle W. Bayless is a native Texan with over 34 years of military service. He entered the United States Army on November 8, 1990 and commissioned on May 8, 1992 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from New Mexico Military Institute. He entered active duty on September 29, 1995 as a Military Police officer.
His military education includes the Military Police Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Interservice Instructor Training Course, the Conventional Physical Security Course, Command and General Staff College, Joint Planners Course, Military Transition Team Course, the Joint Advanced Warfighting School, and Airborne School.
Colonel Bayless holds an Associate of Arts degree from New Mexico Military Institute, a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University, a Master of Science degree in Business and Organizational Security Management from Webster University, and a Master of Science degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from National Defense University as a graduate of the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS).
Colonel Bayless’ assignments include troop and command leadership positions at the platoon, company, and battalion level as well as staff assignments at the two, three, and four-star headquarters level. His most recent assignment prior to the current tour of duty at JFC Brunssum was the Chief of Staff, JS/8 Directorate of Policy, Strategy, Partnering, and Capabilities, Headquarters, United States European Command. He has held a myriad of duty positions within the Military Police Corps to include Forces Command (FORSCOM) for tactical employment of Military Police units and Law Enforcement; Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC); Criminal Investigations Division (CID); and Detention Operations. COL Bayless has also been involved with planning efforts related to migrant operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and led contingency planning for major combat operations in the European theater.
His deployments and Joint Experience include Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2004, 2009-2010), Joint Task Force Guantanamo (2007-2009), Allied Joint Force Command Headquarters, Brunssum, the Netherlands (2010-2012 and 2019-present), and Operation Enduring Freedom (20142015). Colonel Bayless served a utilization tour as a Senior Service College graduate of the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS), which places strategic planners within Combatant Commands.
His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, the German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge in Gold, the Polish Armed Forces Medal in Silver, and the Order of the Marchausse in Bronze.
Colonel Bayless is married to Mrs. Rebecca Lynde Bayless of Garden Valley, Idaho. They have two children Gray, age 19, who is a sophomore in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University and Lauren, age 17, who is a senior at the AFNORTH International School in Brunssum.
The family resides on a small farm in Bingelrade, The Netherlands.