THE WALL OF FACES

SSgt Robert Baker is buried at Lafayette National Park in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

On 16 Jan 1968 MSG Charles Minnicks was the leader of a recon patrol on Co Roc Mountain. SFC Baker was a member of the team. The RT penetrated deeply into a North Vietnamese Army command bunker complex located in a densely jungled mountainous area. While advancing through the maze of heavily fortified positions, SFC Baker was seriously wounded by a sudden burst of enemy automatic weapons fire from one of the emplacements.

SFC Gilbert Secor, a medic, saw Baker, who was in an exposed area to Secor’s front, get wounded. Sergeant Secor, without regard to his own personal safety, immediately ran to the aid of the SFC Baker, exposing himself to heavy enemy fire. Shielding the wounded man with his own body he administered medical treatment which saved the soldier's life. (SFC Secor died 28 Aug 68 during the sapper attack on FOB 4.)

SFC Robert Cavanaugh earned a Bronze Star of assaulting an enemy position without regard for his own personal safety, causing the enemy fire to be shifted from his unit. This allowed them to neutralize the enemy position.

At the same time, MSG Minnicks single-handedly assaulted the hostile bunker and killed two enemy soldiers charging from it with devastating rifle fire. As bullets struck all around him, he continued his attack and destroyed the bunker with a well-placed grenade, killing several more North Vietnamese troops. He then deployed his men in a defensive perimeter and directed their fight against repeated attacks by the numerically superior forces.

When helicopter support arrived after an extended period, he again exposed himself to the enemy weapons and directed intense gunship strikes on the hostile fortifications, which prevented his team from being overrun.

SFC Baker was evacuated to the 106th General Hospital in Japan where he remained until he expired on January 24th as a result of pulmonary embolus secondary to his wounds received . He received a BSMV for his actions on 16 Jan 68.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. It saddens me that so few have remembered you here...surely you deserve better. Rest in eternal peace.

Uncle Bob still thinking of you and missing you always. Thanks for your commitment and service to freedom. The love you shared with all of us in the family stands tall.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.