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John C. Baker

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US Army major general
John C. Baker
1966 black and white head and shoulders photo of Brigadier John C. Baker in dress uniform and cap, facing slightly to his rightBaker as a brigadier general in 1966
Born(1919-04-15)April 15, 1919
Troy, New York, US
DiedJanuary 20, 1996(1996-01-20) (aged 76)
Clifton Park, New York, US
BuriedOakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York, US
ServiceArmy National Guard (1935–1940, 1947–1975)
United States Army (1940–1946)
United States Army Reserve (1946–1947)
Years of service1935–1975
RankMajor General
Service number0368365
UnitNew York Army National Guard
Commands
WarsWorld War II
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Bronze Star Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Alma materRensselaer Polytechnic Institute (attended)
United States Army Command and General Staff College
Spouse(s) Marjorie Sarah Allison ​ ​(m. 1941⁠–⁠1996)​
Children5
Other workDeputy Director, Rennselaer County Office of Disaster Preparedness

John C. Baker (April 15, 1919 – January 20, 1996) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of World War II and a longtime member of the New York Army National Guard, he advanced from private to major general. Baker served as commander of the 42nd Infantry Division and Adjutant General of New York. His awards included the Silver Star, two awards of the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

A native of Troy, New York, Baker was raised and educated in Troy, the state of Georgia, and the state of Florida, and was a graduate of Troy's Lansingburgh High School. He joined the National Guard in 1935, when he was 15, and he received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1938. He was mobilized for federal service for World War II, and served in the Pacific theater with the 105th Infantry Regiment. Baker also pursued a civilian career with the federal government, and was a longtime district director for the General Services Administration.

After his wartime service, Baker rejoined the National Guard, and he advanced through command and staff positions, including command of: 105th Infantry Regiment; Combat Command A, 27th Armored Division; 27th Armored Division Artillery; and the New York National Guard's Emergency Operations Headquarters. In 1971, he was appointed Adjutant General of New York, and in 1973 he was assigned to command the 42nd Infantry Division. He served in both these roles until retiring from the military in 1975.

After retiring from the National Guard, Baker worked as deputy director of the Rennselaer County Office of Disaster Preparedness. In retirement, he resided in Clifton Park, New York. He died in Clifton Park on January 20, 1996. Baker was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Troy.

Early life

John Caswell Baker was born in Troy, New York on April 15, 1919. His father was Frank G. Baker and his mother was Helen (Caswell) Baker. He was raised and educated in Troy, as well as southern locales including Augusta, Georgia and Florida, and was a graduate of Lansingburgh High School. After high school, Baker studied industrial engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Baker began his military career in March 1935, when he enlisted as a private in the New York National Guard's Headquarters Company, 105th Infantry Regiment. He advanced to corporal, and received his commission as a second lieutenant in March 1938.

Start of career

Baker as a first lieutenant in 1941

In September 1940, Baker entered federal service for World War II, accepting reduction in rank to staff sergeant. In October, Baker was recommissioned as a second lieutenant. While his unit underwent reorganization and training, he completed the Infantry Officer Communications Course and the Chemical Warfare Course. The 105th Infantry Regiment served in the Pacific as part of the 27th Infantry Division, and Baker was assigned to command the regimental Headquarters Company. He took part in numerous battles, and was wounded twice, for which he received the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster. He received the Silver Star for heroism during the Battle of Saipan, during which he organized rear echelon personnel into a fighting force which he led in a successful counterattack that prevented attacking Japanese from overrunning his position.

After the war, Baker served briefly in the United States Army Reserve before transferring his military membership back to the New York National Guard. He also pursued a civilian career, which included positions as a foreman with the Tek-Hughes division of the Autograf Brush Company in Watervliet and Albany district director for the federal General Services Administration.

Continued career

After returning to the National Guard in March 1947, Baker was assigned to command 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment. In 1951, he completed the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and the Air-Ground Operations Course. In 1953, he graduated from the Infantry Field Grade Officer Refresher Course and was appointed to command the 105th Infantry. In 1954, Baker graduated from the Armor Field Grade Officer Refresher Course and the associate course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College. In 1955 he was assigned to command Combat Command A, 27th Armored Division and graduated from the Special Weapons Course at the Artillery and Guided Missile School. He graduated from the Armor Officer Advanced Course in 1957, and the Army National Guard Division Staff Officer Course in 1958. In 1958, Baker also graduated from the Senior Officer Preventive Maintenance Course and the Senior Officer Nuclear Weapons Employment Course.

In 1959, Baker graduated from the Tactical Use of Nuclear Weapons Course and the Field Artillery Field Grade Officers Refresher Course. In October 1959, he was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as the New York Army National Guard's chief of staff. In July 1960, he was assigned to command the 27th Armored Division Artillery. Also in 1960, Baker completed the Senior Artillery Officer Surface to Air Missile Course and the Senior Field Artillery Officers Course. In 1961, he graduated from the Reserve course at the Command and General Staff College and completed the Logistical Command Course. In 1961 and 1962, Baker completed the refresher course for Division Artillery staff officers. In 1962, he graduated from the Reserve Component General Officer Orientation Course. In 1962 and 1963, he attended the Combat Division Officers Course. In 1963, he completed the Senior Air Defense Artillery Officers Course. He graduated from the Army Management Orientation Course in 1964.

Later career

In 1961, Baker was assigned as assistant division commander of the 27th Armored Division. In February 1963, he was assistant adjutant general of the New York National Guard and deputy commander of the New York Army National Guard. In July 1968, he was appointed commander of the New York National Guard's Emergency Operations Headquarters and promoted to major general.

In January 1971, Baker was appointed Adjutant General of New York, succeeding Almerin C. O'Hara. In 1973, he assumed command of the 42nd Infantry Division, an assignment he carried out while continuing to serve as adjutant general. Baker retired from the military in December 1975.

Retirement and death

After retiring from the military, Baker was employed as deputy director of the Rennselaer County Office of Disaster Preparedness. Baker's civic and professional memberships included the American Legion and Society of American Military Engineers. In addition, he was a trustee of Hudson Valley Community College.

Baker later resided in Clifton Park, New York. In his final years, he was a resident at a Clifton Park nursing home. He died in Clifton Park on January 20, 1996. Baker was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Troy.

Awards

At his retirement, Baker received the Army Distinguished Service Medal. In addition to the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts, his additional federal awards included:

Baker's state awards included:

Silver Star citation

"During the 1944 Battle of Saipan, in the face of enemy fire, he organized the clerks, communications men and other specialists of the regimental Headquarters Company into a fighting force and personally led a counterattack that halted the desperate charge of the Japanese."

Organization: Headquarters, 27th Infantry Division Orders: General Orders No. 60 (1944)

Effective dates of promotion

Notes

  1. Baker was born John Caswell Landers. His birth record names his parents as Helen Caswell and Matthew B. Landers, who married in 1916. By the time of the 1930 Census, Helen Caswell was married to Frank G. Baker.
  2. Several editions of the Official U.S. Army Register give Baker's birth year as 1916, but most other sources including the 1930 U.S. Census indicate that 1919 is correct. Baker may have provided an incorrect birthdate so he would appear old enough to enlist in the National Guard when he joined in March 1935. At the time of his enlistment, the minimum age was 18, so his actual age of 15 would have made him too young.
  3. At the time, the title was chief of staff to the governor.

References

  1. ^ National Guard Bureau (1943). Official National Guard Register. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Secretary of War. p. 57. Retrieved November 17, 2024 – via Ancestry.com.
  2. ^ Who's Who In the East. Vol. 5. Chicago, Illinois: Marquis Who's Who. 1955. p. 47 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "John C. Baker, 76, Clifton Park, retired major general in Guard". The Sunday Gazette. Schenectady, New York. January 21, 1996. p. B8 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  4. "New York State Birth Index, 1881-1942, Entry for John C. Landers". Ancestry.com. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1919. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  5. "Matthew B. Landers and Helen Caswell in the New York State Marriage Index, 1881-1967". Ancestry.com. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com, LLC. April 11, 1916. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  6. "US Census Entry for Matthew Landers Family". Ancestry.com. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1920. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  7. ^ "US Census Entry for Frank G. Baker Family". Ancestry.com. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1930. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  8. "Obituary, Mrs. F. G. Baker". The Troy Record. Troy, New York. October 23, 1959. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. National Guard Bureau (1968). Official Army National Guard Register. Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office. p. 36 – via Google Books.
  10. "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010, Entry for John Caswell Baker". Ancestry.com. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1996. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  11. Chief of the National Guard Bureau (1947). Annual Report of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office. p. 49 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "Gen. Baker Trustee of HVCC". The Troy Record. Troy, New York. September 10, 1971. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "New York National Guard Service Cards, 1917-1954, Entry for John C. Baker". Ancestry.com. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com, LLC. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  14. ^ National Guard Office of Public Affairs (1968). General Officers of the Army and Air National Guard. Washington, D.C.: National Guard Bureau. pp. 413–414 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ "DeGroff Resigns As Commander Of 105th Infantry". The Times Record. Troy, New York. June 19, 1952. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Gen. Baker Resigns Post As National Guard Chief of Staff". The Times Record. Troy, New York. August 31, 1960. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Watervliet Captain Home from Pacific". The Troy Record. Troy, New York. September 14, 1945. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "John Baker promoted to Colonel". The Times Record. Troy, New York. February 17, 1953. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Named". The Ithaca Journal. Ithaca, New York. Associated Press. January 22, 1971. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Gen. Baker Commands Rainbow". The Times Record. Troy, New York. July 31, 1973. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Carey shuffles agencies". The Journal News. White Plains, New York. United Press International. December 14, 1975. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Baker Named Deputy Preparedness Chief". The Times Record. Troy, New York. February 6, 1976. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Honored By The Army". The Times Record. Troy, New York. January 16, 1976. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. Goodwin, Hilda (September 18, 1959). "Col. Baker To Become Staff Chief". The Times Record. Troy, New York. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. "Silver Star Citation, John Caswell Baker". Hall of Valor. Tysons, Virginia: Military Times. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  26. ^ National Guard Bureau (1966). Official Army National Guard Register. Wasgington, D.C.: Secretary of the U.S. Army. p. 35. Retrieved November 17, 2024 – via Ancestry.com.
  27. ^ National Guard Bureau (1953). Official National Guard Register. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Secretary of the Army. p. 43. Retrieved November 17, 2024 – via Ancestry.com.
  28. National Guard Bureau (1956). Official National Guard Register. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Secretary of the Army. p. 35. Retrieved November 17, 2024 – via Ancestry.com.
  29. "Trojan Named Major General". The Troy Record. Troy, New York. August 2, 1968. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. New York State Senate (1969). Journal of the Senate of the State of New York. Vol. 192. Albany, New York: Williams Press. p. Executive Journal, 3 – via HathiTrust.
  31. The New York Red Book. Vol. 88. Albany, New York: Williams Press. 1985. p. 467 – via Google Books.
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