1
WAR HISTORY COMMISSION
STATE OF VIRGINIA
MILITARY SERVICE RECORD
Name in full
(family name): Baker Jr.
(first name): Richard
(middle name): Henry
Date of birth
(month): July
(day): 8th
(year): 1897
Place of Birth
(town): Norfolk
(county): Norfolk
(state): Virginia
(country): USA
Name of father: Dr. B.M. Baker
Birthplace (country): USA
Maiden name of mother: Potts
Birthplace (country): USA
Are you White, Colored, Indian or Mongolian: WHITE
Citizen (Yes or no):
Voter (yes or no):
Church (denomination): Episcopalian
Married: No
year:
at:
To (maiden name):
Born:
year:
at:
Children
(name):
Born:
year:
at:
Children
(name):
Born:
year:
at:
Children
(name):
Born:
year:
at:
Fraternal Orders:
College Fraternities: Alpha Tau Omega & Lamda Pi.
Previous military service or training: None
Education
(Preparatory): Episcopal High School
(College):
Education
(University): University of Virginia
(Degrees):
Occupation before entry into service: Student
employer:
Residence before entry into the service
(street number): W. Freemason St.
(town): Norfolk, Va.
(county):
Present home address
(street number): Same as above
(town):
(county):
(state):
2
WAR RECORD
Inducted into service or enlisted on (date): enlisted June 6, 1917
at (place): New york City
as a (rank): Stretcher bearer
in the: Medical Corps
section of the : Regular Army
Identification number: 8073
Assigned originally to
(company): Ambulance Co 10
(regiment):
(division):
(or)
(ship):
at (place):
Trained or stationed before going to Europe:-
School, camp, station, ship: Allentown, Pa.
From (date): June 20th
to (date): Aug. 7.
School, camp, station, ship:
From (date):
to (date):
School, camp, station, ship:
From (date):
to (date):
Transferred to:-
Company: S S U 517
Regiment: U.Va. Section
Division:
Ship:
Date:
New Location:
Company: D Hdqtrs
Regiment: Bn. G.H.Q.
Division:
Ship:
Date:
New Location:
Company:
Regiment:
Division:
Ship:
Date:
New Location:
Promoted:-
From (rank): Always just a private
to (rank):
Date:
From (rank):
to (rank):
Date:
Embarked from (port): Hoboken N.J.
on (ship): San Jacinto
(date):
and arrived at (foreign port): St. Nazaire
(date): Aug. 21, 1917
Proceeded from : St. Nazaire
to: Paris
(date): Sept. 25, 1917
From: Paris
to: Alsace
(date): Nov. 1st. 1917
From: Alsace
to: Belgium
(date): April 1st. 1918 Belgium to Hospital (Good bye front, SOS from now on.)
Trained or stationed abroad:-
Country:
Place:
From (date):
to (date):
Country:
Place:
From (date):
to (date):
Country:
Place:
From (date):
to (date):
3
WAR RECORD
First went into action (place): Alsace
(date): Nov. 5th 1917
Participated in the following engagements: Only Major Engagement May 5th to 25th at Kennel Hill in Belgium
Cited, decorated, or otherwise honored for distinguished services (give circumstantial accounts of exploits, including dates and places where performed, also by whom and in what manner the honors were bestowed): : Croix de Guerre Evacuating with ambulance from first line trench under heavy bombardment.
Killed in action, killed by accident, died of wounds, died of disease, wounded, gassed, shell-shocked, taken prisoner:
Nature of casuality:
(place):
(date):
Nature of casuality:
(place):
(date):
Nature of casuality:
(place):
(date):
Under medical care:-
Name of hospital: A.R.C.H. No 2
Location: Paris
From (date): May 26th
to (date): 30th 1918
Name of hospital: Base Hospt. No 8
Location: Savanay
From (date): June 2nd
to (date): July 15th 1918
Name of hospital:
Location:
From (date):
to (date):
Name of hospital:
Location:
From (date):
to (date):
Permanently disabled (through loss of limb, eyesight, etc.) (specify disability): Bad hip still have trouble no disability
Arrived at (American port): Boston
on (ship): Canada
Date: Jan. 21, 1919
(from): Brest
Discharged from service at (place): Camp Devens
(date): Jan 25th 1919
as a (rank): Private
RETURN TO CIVIL LIFE
Occupation after the war: Student of Theology.
If a change of occupation was occasioned by reason of disability acquired in the service, describe the process of re-education and readjustment, and indicate the agencies or individuals chiefly instrumental in furnishing the new occupations::
4
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
What was your attitude toward military service in general and toward your call in particular?: My duty
What were the effects of camp experiences in the United States upon yourself -- mental and physical?: I onlly had six weeks of it, mentally I was tired of it and wanted to get away as soon as possible. Good physical condition.
What were the effects upon yourself of your overseas experience?: Satisfaction on the front while S.O.S. was awful
What effects, if any, did your experience have on your religious belief?: I'm sure that God seemed nearer to us all.
If you took part in the fighting, what impressions were made upon you by this experience?: Did not fight just drove ambulance.
What has been the effect of all these experiences as contrasted with your state of mind before the war?: I know a lot more about a human being & possibly I do not trust him as much.
Photographs-- If possible enclose one taken before entering the service and one taken afterwards in uniform, both signed and dated.
Additional data:
Signed at (place): Norfolk, Va.
on (date): Sept. 15
year: 1919
(full name): Richard Henry Baker
(rank): Pvt.
(branch of service): Ambulance with French.
The information contained in this record, unless otherwise indicated, was obtained from the following persons or sources:: I can remember this much.
