134th Infantry Regiment Website
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
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134th Infantry Regiment Website"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
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Robert H. Baker was born June 17, 1923 in Saranac Lake, New York. He was 19 years old and single when he enlisted in the Army during February of 1943.
He landed at Omaha Beach with Company K, 320th Infantry Regiment on July 6, 1944. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant on August 8, 1944 and Technical Sergeant on January 3, 1945. He earned the Bronze Star Medal on November 11, 1944 and the Bronze Star Medal Oak Leaf Cluster on January 5, 1945. He was wounded once, without being hospitalized. He was honorably discharged from the Army on October 15, 1945.
After the war, Robert Baker settled down in Rochester, New York and worked as a machinist. He married Bernice Terharr on October 28, 1950. They had 8 children. He formed B – B Honing in 1962 and owned it until his death. He passed on September 1, 1987.
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Bronze Star Medal |
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Technical Sergeant Robert H Baker, 32850423, Company K, 320th Infantry Regiment, for meritorious service in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States in France and Luxembourg, 11 July 1944 - 5 January 1945. The performance of his duties, as accomplished by Sergeant Baker throughout the period mentioned, has been highly meritorious. In every action in which his unit has engaged, he has displayed qualities of leadership, courage, aggressiveness and disregard for personal safety, which have inspired the men about him, and which have been a notable contribution to the success of his unit. On one occasion, 11 November 1944, when the advance of Company K was impeded by a strong enemy pocket of resistance, the enemy called to Sergeant Baker to surrender. In tones of utter contempt, Sergeant Baker demanded that the enemy surrender, as a result of which a number of enemy soldiers placed themselves in his custody as prisoners. The exceptionally meritorious service of Sergeant Baker during the period mentioned, denotes him an asset to his organization and to the military service. Entered military service from New York. General Orders No. 8, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 22 January 1945 |
  Bronze Star Medal Oak Leaf Cluster |
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Technical Sergeant Robert H Baker, 32850423, Company K, 320th Infantry Regiment,
for heroic service in connection with military operations against an enemy of
the United States near Harlange, Luxembourg, 5 January 1945. En route to the
company command post, accompanied by his platoon leader, Sergeant Baker, a
Platoon Sergeant, observed a group of approximately twenty enemy soldiers who,
after having penetrated our lines, demanded the surrender of the occupants of
the command post, among whom was the company commander. Without regard for his
own safety, Sergeant Baker engaged in a fire fight with the enemy, during the
course of which, he heard, ahead of friendly lines, the voice of a wounded enemy
soldier, directing enemy action. Sergeant Baker, without regard for the danger
involved, went to the wounded man's position, silenced him and took prisoner two
enemy soldiers guarding the wounded enemy. Sergeant Baker's intrepid actions,
his devotion to duty and disregard for personal safety, contributed toward
frustrating the enemy attack and spared possible casualties within his unit.
Entered military service from New York. General Orders No. 11, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 12 February 1945 |
Thanks to Mary Baker Muller for this information about her father.