World War II Honoree

Rollin H. Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Eagle Lake, Texas

Honored By

Michael J. Guarino

Relationship

Friend

ACTIVE DUTY FROM FEBRUARY 1943 TO JULY 1946. GRADUATED FROM MIDSHIPMAN'S SCHOOL AT NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY, SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. SERVED AS LINE (DECK) OFFICER ABOARD THE DESTROYER USS BELKNAP (AVD-8 AND DD-251) FROM JUNE 1943 TO JUNE 1944 ON ANTI-SUBMARINE HUNTER-KILLER DUTY WITH ESCORT AIRCRAFT CARRIERS AS PART OF THE ATLANTIC FLEET. SERVED WITH NAVAL MEDICAL RESEARCH UNIT NO. 2 (NAMRU) IN NEW YORK CITY AND IN THE PACIFIC THEATER ON GUAM, ULITHI AND PALAU IN CHARGE OF THE UNIT'S BIRD AND MAMMAL LABORATORY AND AS THE UNIT'S GUNNERY OFFICER. NAMRU DID RESEARCH AND WORKED TO HELP PREVENT AMERICAN TROOPS FROM CONTRACTING AND SPREADING TROPICAL DISEASES WHILE MEMBERS OF AN INVASION FORCE. SERVED WITH THE U.S. NAVAL BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY WITH TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A LIEUTENANT, SENIOR GRADE.