World War II Honoree

James B. Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lancaster, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

STAGED AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON DECEMBER 4, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON DECEMBER 16, 1943 AND ARRIVED AT CASABLANCA, MOROCCO ON DECEMBER 25, 1943. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY B, 1ST BATTALION, 349TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 88TH INFANTRY 'BLUE DEVILS' DIVISION. LANDED AT NAPLES, ITALY ON FEBRUARY 6, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE ROME-ARNO, NORTH APENNINES, AND PO VALLEY CAMPAIGNS IN ITALY. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS DIVISION IN CENTRAL ITALY. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF MASTER SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.