World War II Honoree

Franklin Richard Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Marie Baker, Franklin R. Jr., Myrta, Kenneth, Paul, Norman & Larrie

Relationship

Wife, Son, Sister & Brothers

COMPLETED HIS BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AT THE GREAT LAKES U.S. NAVAL TRAINING STATION, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SERVED ABOARD THE DESTROYER USS WALKE II DD-416 AS A FIREMAN IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ON NOVEMBER 15, 1942, HE SURVIVED THE SINKING OF HIS SHIP WHEN IT WAS HIT BY A TORPEDO AND A SALVO OF SHELLS FROM A JAPANESE LIGHT CRUISER NEAR GUADALCANAL. THE TANKER USS NESHANIC AO-71 WAS COMMISSIONED FEBRUARY 20, 1943, THE DAY HE BOARDED HER AND WAS DEPLOYED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER. CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES: SOLOMON ISLANDS GUADALCANAL, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, TARAWA, KWAJALEIN, ENIWETOK, SAIPAN, IWO JIMA, THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA AND OKINAWA. AFTER ALL HOSTILITIES HAD CEASED WITH JAPAN, HIS SHIP AND CREW SERVED WITH THE OCCUPATION FORCES AND ARRIVED IN TOKYO BAY SEPTEMBER 21, 1945. AWARDED THE NAVY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 9 BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.