THE WALL OF FACES

SSG Linwood L. Baker was an infantryman assigned to Aero Rifle Platoon, C Troop, 7th Squadron, 1st Cavalry, 1st Aviation Brigade. Baker, a 20-year Army veteran, was a Section Leader for an aero-scout platoon in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam. The platoon operated in tandem with an aero-weapons platoon and was sent on search and destroy missions in suspected enemy areas accessible only by helicopter. The teams operated at low-level with the aero-rifle platoon used for ground reconnaissance in locations which could not be adequately reconnoitered by air. On July 13, 1971, Baker was accidently wounded in the abdomen by a .45 caliber pistol. He sustained critical internal injuries and was admitted to the 3rd Surgical Hospital in Bien Hoa. Multiple small bowel complications developed, and Baker expired at 1:35 AM on July 26, 1971. His remains were transferred to the U.S. Army Mortuary at Saigon, and later returned to the United States. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. That you served in three wars attests to you devotion to our country. May you rest in eternal peace.

Staff Sergeant Linwood Lee Baker, Served with the Aero Rifle Platoon, C Troop, 7th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.

Boston Globe article, Aug 3, 1944

I wanted to say thank you to Dorothy, Linwood's niece for sending me the picture.