World War II Honoree

Benjamin George Baum

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Rison, Maryland

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps June 9, 1938 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with recruit training assigned to the Fourth Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for combat training. Following basic and advanced infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands and based at Fort Mills Location: Corregidor Island AKA: the Rock. He served as a Rifle Team Leader with Baker Company, First Battalion and Fourth Marine Regiment, which participated in the Battle of Corregidor (Battle Dates: May 5-6, 1942). Reported missing in action or buried at sea May 6, 1942, during a combat operation against the Imperial Japanese forces. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Silver Star and the Purple Heart. Silver Star was awarded to the Marine for Distinguished Gallantry in Action and Valor in the face of the enemy, and the Purple Heart for his ultimate sacrifice.