THE WALL OF FACES

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever...

If you had read the Greenville Advocate newspaper on April 22, 1969, in the middle of page 3 would have been a small article titled, “4 Ohioans Die in Viet Action.” The four were amongst 51 killed in Vietnam as reported by the Department of Defense. The final paragraph read, “Spec. 4 Bobby R. Baker, husband of Mrs. Cozetta R Baker, Fairfield. He did not die as a result of hostile action.” In that short, almost innocuous phrase is so much more. For according to the records, SP4 Baker died from a most unfortunate set of circumstances.

Many assume each of the over 58,000 who died in Vietnam was killed in action or KIA. While the majority were killed in action, there are men and women who died of diseases, accidents, and even homicides. Primary inclusion on The Wall only requires the death occur in the war zone and period for the Vietnam War – no matter the circumstances.

SP4 Bobby Baker had been drafted into the Army from Butler County, OH beginning his service on January 30, 1968. After completing boot camp and initial training, he joined D Co, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade in Vietnam on June 29th, 1968.

On April 15th, 1969, Specialist Baker and another member of his unit were unloading a large military truck at the ammunition dump. Near them was a monkey tied up so that he wouldn’t wander off or get away. It wasn’t unusual for servicemembers in Vietnam to befriend, feed or even keep monkeys as mascots or pets. We often see photos of them together in their profiles.

Unfortunately, the mischievous monkey, perhaps more curious than expected, picked up a white phosphorous grenade that was in the ammo dump. When detonated, white phosphorus grenades burn up to 5000 degrees Fahrenheit and spread fiery particles that burn through clothing, equipment, and especially skin. The resulting chemical burns are incredibly painful and very difficult to treat. While the monkey certainly would not have known this, Specialist Baker and his buddy certainly would have.

The monkey pulled the pin from the grenade and dropped it to the ground. Unfortunately, upon detonation, both Specialist Baker and his comrade were seriously burned. Whether because of the actions of Baker and his comrade or sheer luck, miraculously, no other ammunition exploded during the accident. Yet both men were seriously wounded.

Despite being evacuated by helicopter almost immediately, Specialist Baker succumbed to his wounds at the nearby field hospital. In papers throughout the US, his death was mentioned amongst 51 reported from the previous week. Men who had died in dozens of ways while fighting in a war thousands of miles from home.

Yet, Baker should not be only judged for the sad circumstances surrounding his death, for if you visit his headstone in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Hamilton, Ohio, you will learn he had previously been awarded the Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart for wounds received for his service to our nation. In 2006, his widow Cozetta was buried beside him.

Specialist Four Bobby Russell Baker, Served with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 199th Infantry Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.

On the remembrance of your 77th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH