World War II Honoree

Raymond J. 'Joe' Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oakhurst, Oklahoma

Honored By

Jackie Baker

Relationship

Wife

SERVED FROM 1943 TO 1946 IN THE 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 60TH REGIMENT, AS A RIFLEMAN 745 IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS. TRAINED WITH 42ND RAINBOW DIVISION, CAMP GRUBER, OKLAHOMA, EARNING A COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND AN EXPERT RIFLE M1 30 CAL QUALIFICATION. WOUNDED 17 JULY 1944, AND SENT TO HOSPITAL IN PARIS, FRANCE TO RECOVER. WOUNDED AND CAPTURED IN BELGIUM AT THE MEUSE RIVER CROSSING ON 5 SEPTEMBER 1944. SPENT TEN MONTHS AS A PRISONER OF WAR IN THREE SEPARATE PRISON CAMPS (LAST CAMP, STALAG 7A). LIBERATED BY AMERICAN FORCES IN 1945 AND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 12 MONTHS TO RECOVER FROM WOUNDS AND INTERNMENT. MEDALS AWARDED INCLUDE THE BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART (17 AUGUST 1944), PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER (21 AUGUST 1945), EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.