World War II Honoree

Elmer A. Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New Bloomfield, Missouri

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. On January 25, 1943, he entered the United States Army at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Deployed to England, where he served as a member of the 66th Infantry ‘Black Panther’ Division assigned to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion an element of the 262nd Infantry Regiment. Sunday December 24, 1944, while on deployment from Southampton, England to Cherbourg, France, crossing the English Channel aboard the SS Leopoldville, it came under attack by the German Submarine, U-486. The Submarine Commander fired two torpedoes, striking the ship, which began to sink slowing in the frigid waters five miles from the coastal shoreline of Cherbourg, France with a loss of 802 lives. Killed in action, Monday, December 25, 1944 and buried in the Saint-Mere-Eglise #2 Battlefield Cemetery in Carentan, France. After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, his remains were returned to his family for burial, with interment in the Riverview Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri. This Soldier, an American Patriot so gallantly gave his life for his country.