World War II Honoree

Raymond J. 'Joe' Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oakhurst, Oklahoma

Honored By

Department of Oklahoma Military Order of the Purple Heart

SERVED FROM 1943 TO 1946 IN THE 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 60TH REGIMENT AS A RIFLEMAN, 745 IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRES OF OPERATION. EARNED A COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND AN EXPERT RIFLE M1 30 CALIBER QUALIFICATION. WOUNDED JULY 17, 1944, AND SENT TO HOSPITAL IN PARIS, FRANCE TO RECOVER. WOUNDED AND CAPTURED IN BELGIUM AT THE MEUSE RIVER CROSSING ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1944. SPENT 10 MONTHS AS A PRISONER OF WAR IN THREE SEPARATE PRISON CAMPS. LIBERATED BY AMERICAN FORCES IN 1945 AND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 12 MONTHS TO RECOVER FROM WOUNDS AND INTERNMENT. MEDALS AWARDED: THE BRONZE STAR; PURPLE HEART (AUGUST 17, 1944), PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER (AUGUST 21, 1945), PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL; 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.