Joseph M. Baker ( February 14, 1898 – February 19, 1928) served in the United States Marine Corps during World War I. As a private in the 67th Company of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, the United States Army awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross for single-handedly destroying an enemy machinegun position while exposed to heavy fire during the Battle of Belleau Wood in France on June 6, 1918.[1][2][3] He received the Navy Cross for the same action, where he shot the gunner with his rifle, rushed the machinegun position and bayonetted the crew.[3][4] During this action, the 67th fought against the 460th Infantry Regiment equipped with Maxim guns and took heavy casualties.[5] While attacking to seize the objective, Hill 142, Private Baker saw the hidden machinegun inflicting casualties and silenced it after maneuvering to a flanking position.[5] Upon capturing Hill 142, the 67th established a defensive perimeter with the 47th and fought off many counterattacks.[5]

Baker was born in Logansport, Indiana on February 14, 1898 and enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 1917.[6] He took part in the Third Battle of the Aisne, the Battle of Château-Thierry, the Aisne-Marne campaign, the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse–Argonne offensive. After being discharged from the Marines in 1919, he immediately enlisted in the United States Army and over the course of the following four years, he was sent to Siberia for the Siberian intervention and the Philippine Islands. He died 19 February 1928 and was buried in San Francisco, California.[7]

References

  1. ↑ United States Department of the Army. Citation for the Distinguished Service Cross. Quoted in "Baker, Joseph M." HomeOfHeroes.com. Retrieved 2020-07-15. Archived 2020-07-16 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "Joseph M. Baker Distinguished service Cross", MilitaryTimes.com, Sightline Media Group. Retrieved January 23, 2022. Note: click the forward arrow (») on the bottom right of the Distinguished Service Cross citation to view the Navy Cross citation.
  3. 1 2 Jaeckel, L. E. "Alabama Heroes Of The World War", The Birmingham News, Birmingham, Alabama, 48th year, number 140, August 23, 1935, page 2. (subscription required) Note: this source said he served with the 55th Company, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division during this action.
  4. ↑ Anderson, William T. The Bravest Deeds of Men, Number 4 in the United States Marines in World War I Commemorative Series, United States Marine Corps History Division, Quantico, Virginia, 2018, page 63.
  5. 1 2 3 Clark, George B. Devil Dogs: Fighting Marines of World War I, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1999, paperback version 2013, pages 102-104. ISBN 978-1-61251-216-7
  6. ↑ Copeland, Richard. "County’s World War I soldiers honored for heroic efforts", Pharos-Tribune online, Logansport, Indiana, February 27, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  7. ↑ Stutesman, Sgt David A. "Baker, Joseph M., Pvt". Together We Served. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
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