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==Background==

==Background==

Bayliss was the youngest of five sons born to Fred Edwin Bayliss, Sr. (1872-1937), and the former Florence Eugenia Dixon (1882-1967) in the small city of McGehee (pronounced MACGEE)]] in Desha County in southeastern [[Arkansas]]. In his early childhood, he was known by his middle name, Erastus.<ref name=bio/> His father, a conductor for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, died a few months after Garland turned thirteen.<ref name=meb/>

Bayliss was the youngest of five sons born to Fred Edwin Bayliss, Sr. (1872-1937), and the former Florence Eugenia Dixon (1882-1967) in the small city of McGehee (pronounced MACGEE)]] in Desha County in southeastern [[Arkansas]]. In his early childhood, he was known by his middle name, Erastus.<ref name=bio/> His father, a conductor for the former Missouri Pacific Railroad (1872-1982), died a few months after Garland turned thirteen.<ref name=meb/>

Bayliss attended public schools in McGehee. In his early childhood years, he was known by his middle name, but he soon dropped the use of "Erasmus." He graduated in 1942 from McGehee High School and briefly attended the [regional University of Arkansas at Monticello in neighboring Drew County.<ref name=bio/>

Bayliss attended public schools in McGehee. In his early childhood years, he was known by his middle name, but he soon dropped the use of "Erasmus." He graduated in 1942 from McGehee High School and briefly attended the [regional University of Arkansas at Monticello in neighboring Drew County.<ref name=bio/>

==Military service==​

==Military service==​

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On November 3, 1942, Bayliss entered the [[United States Navy]] and became an ensign<ref name=militarymen>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasties.com/WhatsNew/2012/04/desha-county-military-men-1945-mcgehee/|title=Desha County Military Men – 1945 – McGehee|date=April 23, 2012|publisher=arkansasties.com|accessdate=June 27, 2015}}</ref> through the completion of the United States Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School, which opened in 1940 at [[Columbia University]] in [[New York City]]. After initial service at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in the [[borough]] of [[Brooklyn]], he was assigned during [[World War II]] for two years until 1945 on the ''USS General J. H. McRae'' naval transport ship in the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacif theater of operations.<ref name=bio/><ref name=militarymen/>​

On November 3, 1942, Bayliss entered the [[United States Navy]] and became an ensign<ref name=militarymen>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasties.com/WhatsNew/2012/04/desha-county-military-men-1945-mcgehee/|title=Desha County Military Men – 1945 – McGehee|date=April 23, 2012|publisher=arkansasties.com|accessdate=June 27, 2015}}</ref> through the completion of the United States Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School, which opened in 1940 at [[Columbia University]] in [[New York City]]. After initial service at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in the [[borough]] of [[Brooklyn]], he was assigned during [[World War II]] for two years until 1945 on the ''USS General J. H. McRae'' naval transport ship in the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] theater of operations.<ref name=bio/><ref name=militarymen/>​

Two of Bayliss' brothers also served in the war, James Eldred Bayliss (1916–1989),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=46100560|title=James Eldred Bayliss|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> an [[United States Army|Army]] staff sergeant in [[Iran]], and Mercer Embree "Flea" Bayliss (1919-2004) of Warren, Arkansas, an Army sergeant in the [[Europe]]an theater of operations]],<ref name=militarymen/> who received eight [[Bronze Star]]s in combat.<ref>McGehee Veterans Memorial, accessed June 26, 2010, no longer on line.</ref> He was subsequently like his father a railroad conductor.<ref name=meb>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=88126901|title=Mercer Embree "Flea" Bayliss|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> Mercer Bayliss' widow, the former Elizabeth Ann "Sis" Banister (1922-2015), a [[telephone]] operator, died in 2015 in [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]], Arkansas, less than three months before the passing of her brother-in-law, Garland Bayliss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=143616144|title=Elizabeth Ann "Sis" Banister Bayliss|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> Two other Bayliss brothers, Fred, Jr. (1909-1975) and Dixon E. Bayliss (1913-1981), are interred alongside their parents at McGehee Cemetery.<ref name=meb/>​

Two of Bayliss' brothers also served in the war, James Eldred Bayliss (1916–1989),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=46100560|title=James Eldred Bayliss|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> an [[United States Army|Army]] staff sergeant in [[Iran]], and Mercer Embree "Flea" Bayliss (1919-2004) of Warren, Arkansas, an Army sergeant in the [[Europe]]an theater of operations]],<ref name=militarymen/> who received eight [[Bronze Star]]s in combat.<ref>McGehee Veterans Memorial, accessed June 26, 2010, no longer on line.</ref> He was subsequently like his father a railroad conductor.<ref name=meb>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=88126901|title=Mercer Embree "Flea" Bayliss|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> Mercer Bayliss' widow, the former Elizabeth Ann "Sis" Banister (1922-2015), a [[telephone]] operator, died in 2015 in [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]], Arkansas, less than three months before the passing of her brother-in-law, Garland Bayliss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=143616144|title=Elizabeth Ann "Sis" Banister Bayliss|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> Two other Bayliss brothers, Fred, Jr. (1909-1975) and Dixon E. Bayliss (1913-1981), are interred alongside their parents at McGehee Cemetery.<ref name=meb/>​