Leroy C. Baker
Biography: Leroy Cecil Baker was born on January 7, 1921, in Sawyer, North Dakota. He was the son of Fred E. Baker and Myrtle G. Walker. He attended Sawyer High School and completed two years at the Minot Teachers College. His enlistment record indicates he was a member of a Field Artillery unit in the National Guard.
Leroy entered the Army on April 1, 1941, at Minot, ND, with the national guard and left for Fort Francis E. Warren, Cheyenne, Wyoming. At some point, he was sent to Camp Hood, Texas, for Officer Candidate School (OCS), where he received his 2nd Lieutenant’s commission. On November 19, 1942, he was assigned to the 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion from the Tank Destroyer Replacement Center at Camp Hood. The unit was stationed at Camp Hood at that time. That same day, he was assigned to Company A. He trained with the unit at a number of locations including Camp San Luis Obispo, the Desert Training Center (Camp Ibis) and Camp Cooke, all in California. On March 29, 1943, Leroy was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
On September 9, 1943, Leroy married the former Bertha Walz, in Seattle, Washinton. She was born in Max, ND and was the daughter of George Walz and Sarah Burgemeister. They made their home in Seattle, and eventually had two sons, Robert and Wayne.
Arriving at Liverpool, England, on April 21, 1944, the unit continued training. Company C landed at Utah Beach, Normandy, France, on June 23rd and supported the advance on Cherbourg, fighting along the Seves River in July. They joined the drive to Le Mans and envelopment of the Falaise Pocket in August. Leroy was transferred to Company C on August 28th and was eventually assigned as a platoon commander. Advancing to the Moselle River in September, they supported operations against Metz through November. The unit converted to a self-propelled battalion equipped with M36 tank destroyers (TD’s) in time for the final assault on Metz.
On November 28, 1944, four TD’s from 3rd Platoon, Company C (Leroy’s platoon, last reported position of the platoon was about 1500 yards west of Merten), were to assist the 3rd Battalion, 378th Infantry (95th ID), in an attack against the town. Both units were to meet at a roadblock at the west edge of town. Unbeknownst to the TD personnel, the infantry met more resistance than expected and had not reached the roadblock, or cleared any enemy anti-tank guns in the vicinity. Two of the TD’s were hit by enemy anti-tank fire as they were approaching the town. Two men were reported as KIA (Killed in Action) and three men reported as MIA (Missing in Action), later updated to KIA. It is believed that Leroy was seriously wounded in this incident and later evacuated to the 103rd Evacuation Hospital. He did not return to the unit and was later awarded the Purple Heart Medal for his wounds. In early March, 1945, Leroy, along with many other battle casualties, was shipped back to the U.S. aboard a Coast Guard manned troop ship. He was eventually placed in Madigan General Hospital at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, WA, to continue healing and rehabilitation from his wounds.
We have very little information on Leroy’s life after the military but a 1948 Seattle City Directory, the 1950 U.S. Census and a 1958 Seattle City Directory all show him working as a Mail Carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Leroy passed away on February 3, 2003, in Lynnwood, WA. He was buried in the Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park, Seattle, WA. We would like to thank Anita Baker for use of the photos of Leroy and Find a Grave contributor, Karen Sipe, for use of the grave marker photo.
