The number of World War II veterans is quickly dwindling. Of those that grew up during the Great Depression and served during the war, the veterans are mostly between the ages of 96 and 102. Voorheesville native Ken Bailey is part of that generation. He has been living life to the fullest and still does at age 101 — adding he’s not slowing down anytime soon.

These days, Bailey may need a little more help strapping on his helmet and vest. But he was born to ride.

Inside Bailey’s home, a place he built and lived for 73 years, the walls are lined with the memories of his service. Pictures capture in time some of the most important rides of his life.

Bailey served in the Fourth Cavalry, the oldest unit in the U.S. Army throughout World War II. He grew up during the Great Depression and was drafted in November of 1942 at just 20 years old.

“Nope, didn’t have a choice, but they made a good one for me. I couldn’t ask for a better outfit than the Fourth Cavalry,” said Bailey.

Just weeks after he married the love of his life, his time as a newlywed was cut short by the draft. Ken and his wife Florence met, of course, on wheels.

“It took me five times I skated around her before I had enough nerve to ask her to skate. And we’ve been skating ever since,” he said, laughing as he recalled the memory.

He was sent to Fort Meade, Md., for initial training. He was then sent to Camp Young, Calif., where he continued desert training for combat in Africa. After hostilities in Africa ended, plans changed and he was sent to Camp Maxie in Paris, Texas. It was there that Bailey traded in his Harley for an armored jeep.

“Anybody that goofed off in the Fourth Cavalry did not get court-martialed or sent home, they were put in the point jeep. Nobody wanted to be in that, because when you stuck your nose around the corner, the Germans were there to get you,” he stated.

They began waterproofing vehicles for a “secret invasion,” now known as the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944. He trained for nearly six months before he landed on Utah Beach in Normandy six days after the invasion began.

Bailey says he was expected to drive through 6 feet of water to get to the coastline.

“Well, I figured I would just hold my breath and take off as best as I could. And then the lieutenant colonel came back and said ‘we’ll wait until the tide went out,’ ” Bailey recalled. “I drove through 3 feet of water; piece of cake.”

Throughout the war, Bailey drove officers and led the pack to enemy lines. On Christmas Day, 1944, the found himself behind the wheel during Battle of the Bulge, one of the bloodiest battles and a turning point in the war.

“He takes me with a jeep and we led the tanks against Germany. One wrong move and they would’ve crushed us. We had nothing to eat that Christmas,” Bailey said.

He received a Bronze Star during the war, during the Mortain Counterattack. Bailey said his crew found themselves behind enemy lines, surrounded and under fire. Still, they agreed that they were not going to be taken prisoner.

To get out of the line of fire, Bailey drove into a dry creek bed. He led his men and his armored car out from behind enemy lines and away from danger.

“So we went down in a creek bed and now we’re out of their sight and they can’t see us. Well, now we can’t get up,” Bailey recalled. “So we cut down trees and we were finally able to get out.”

After the war, he returned home in the middle of the night in November of 1945. He came home to an empty train station, and took a taxi to his home, where his wife was waiting on the front porch.

“About 1, 1:30 it is in the morning; there’s nobody that greets you, nobody that says ‘welcome home’ or nothing,” he recalled.

After the war, he continued to use his knowledge of cars working at Orange Motors for nearly half a century. He raised three boys and spent the next 63 years with Florence by his side. But for years, Bailey veteran never spoke of his service.

“When I go to bed every night, something will come up,” he says about the horrors that still live with him.

Bailey was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Merit, Army Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, New York State Conspicuous Service Cross and Star and the New York State Medal for Merit.

On July 3, 2015, Corporal Bailey received the French Legion of Honor in New York City. It is the highest honor given in France, specifically for those who liberated the country.

But when his wife passed in 2005, it left Bailey only with memories. He says he lost his way, until an honor flight sparked a new life and connected him with the Patriot Guard.

“Very proud of that they made me an honorary ride captain,” he says about the life-changing moment.

The group got him back up on two wheels and, he said, gave him back his purpose.

“All the Patriot Guards, as they come [back] from viewing the casket, they’d shake my hand or the girls hugged and kissed me … Now that is something that you don’t get every day,” he said with tears in his eyes.

The freedom he still has on the open road, he said, is the same freedom he fought for decades ago.

“I lost a lot of people, including my gunner. I never got wounded, very lucky. And I thank God for that,” Bailey said.

Bailey has had quite the journey in his 101 years of life, and he says, even at his age, he’s just along for the ride.

“I have nobody left. The girl that does the paperwork for the Fourth Cavalry says I’m the last one,” said Bailey. Sometimes that makes you sad, too, but then again, I’m proud, I’m still here, I’m still riding on a motorcycle!”