World War II Honoree

Boyd E. H. Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Menard, Texas

Honored By

Lawrence L. Schuermann

Relationship

Friend of Family

JOINED THE U.S. ARMY ON MAY 15, 1943. VOLUNTEERED FOR PARATROOPER TRAINING. ATTENDED RECRUIT TRAINING AT CAMP TOCCOA, GEORGIA AND COMPLETED PARATROOPER JUMP SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA. ASSIGNED TO THE 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION, 517TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT (PIR), 2ND BATTALION, COMPANY 'E'. PARTICIPATED IN THE 'TENNESSEE MANUVERS' IN FEBRUARY, 1944 AND TRANSFERRED TO CAMP PATRICK HENRY, IN VIRGINIA, FOR FINAL STAGING TO THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN. LANDED IN NAPLES, ITALY, ABOARD THE GRACE LINER SANTA ROSA, ON MAY 31, 1944. COMMITTED TO COMBAT NORTH OF ROME ON JUNE 17, 1944 NEAR THE CITY OF GROSSETO. ON AUGUST 15, 1944 TOOK PART IN OPERATION ANVIL, THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE, WITH AN ASSAULT JUMP NEAR LA CIOTAT, FRANCE. COMPANY 'E' DISTINGUISHED ITSELF ON THE ATTACK OF LA ROQUETTE AND RECEIVED A COMMENDATION FROM GENERAL FREDERICK OF THE U.S. SEVENTH ARMY. FOUGHT THROUGH MID-NOVEMBER, 1944 IN AND AROUND THE SOSPEL VALLEY. THE 517TH PIR WAS AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE MEDAL FOR THEIR ACTION IN SOUTH FRANCE. BY DECEMBER 10, 1944 THE REGIMENT WAS TRANSFERRED TO NORTHERN FRANCE NEAR SOISSONS. DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. PERFORMED DEFENSIVE COMBAT IN AND AROUND THE CITIES OF MALMEDY, TROIS PONTS, AND ST. VITH, BELGIUM. ON FEBRUARY 8, 1945, HE FOUGHT NEAR BERSTEIN, GERMANY WITH SUCH LOSS OF INFANTRYMEN THAT RELIEF BY THE 508TH PIR WAS NECESSARY. ON FEBRUARY 21, 1945 THE UNIT WAS FORMALLY DISSOLVED. THE 517TH PIR WAS AWARDED A BELGIUM CROIX DE GUERRE MEDAL FOR COMBAT SERVICE IN BELGIUM. REMAINED IN GERMANY AFTER THE WAR ENDED FOR OCCUPATIONAL DUTIES. RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON NOVEMBER 27, 1945. HONORABLE DISCHARGE; DECEMBER 4, 1945. AWARDS INCLUDE: SILVER STAR MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, BRONZE STAR MEDAL FROM POST-WAR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION, PURPLE HEART MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER CAMPAIGN STAR AND 1 BRONZE ARROWHEAD, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY BAR, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, AND PARACHUTE BASIC BADGE. PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING CAMPAIGNS: ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE (WITH ASSAULT JUMP) RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE, AND CENTRAL EUROPE.