World War II Honoree

Daniel Webster Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Honored By

D. Marguerite Baker

Relationship

Wife

COMPLETED 4 YEARS ACTIVE DUTY SEPTEMBER 12, 1936 TO SEPTEMBER 17, 1940 AS AN ELECTRICIAN'S MATE 2/C ON THE BATTLESHIP COLORADO. AFTER PEARL HARBOR, HE WAS RECALLED TO THE NAVY ON JANUARY 3, 1942. AFTER REPORTING TO ACTIVE DUTY, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE LUXURY LINER LAFAYETTE WHICH WAS BEING MADE OVER AS A TROOP SHIP. THE SHIP BURNED ON FEBRUARY 9, 1942 IN THE NEW YORK CITY HARBOR, BUT HE GOT OFF SAFELY. WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO A VP-4 SQUADRON. HE SPENT THE REST OF THE WAR IN SQUADRONS AT MANY PLACES, MANY TIMES IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, WORKING ON PLANES WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DURING THAT TIME HE WAS RATED AVIATION CHIEF ELECTRICIAN'S MATE. HE SURVIVED 3 PLANE CRASHES. HIS LAST ASSIGNMENT WAS IN ASTORIA, OREGON. HE WAS DISCHARGED FROM TREASURE ISLAND, CALIFORNIA ON OCTOBER 3, 1945.