Earl Baker Dies of Wounds
In Luzon Hospital
La Porte City, Ia. – Pfc. Earl J. Baker, son of Charles R. Baker of Route 1, La Porte City, died in a hospital in Luzon March 4 of wounds received in action February 8 on Luzon.
He was inducted Mar. 9, 1941, at Independence, was home on furlough in September, 1941, and that was the last time his father saw him. He was stationed at camps in California and Washington before his transfer to Hawaii.
Private Baker also was at the Marshalls and New Britain and was with the first troops to land on Luzon, with Company A, 160th infantry.
He was born three miles south of Brandon, in Benton county, Aug. 9, 1917.
Surviving besides his father are four sisters, Mrs. G. F. Berry, Route 2, Center Point; Mrs. Fred Clevender, Richmond, Cal; Mrs. Dean Henningson, San Jose, Cal.; Mrs. Robert C. Young; two brothers, Percy, Waterloo, and Carl, at home.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, April 01, 1945, Section 4, Page 23
Pfc. Earl Baker Reburial
Sunday at La Porte City
La Porte City, Ia. – The body of the first La Porte City veteran of World war II to lose his life overseas was returned Tuesday. The body was returned to San Francisco from the Philippine Islands on the army transport Dalton Victory.
Pfc. Earl Baker, son of Charles and Hertha Baker, was born in Harrison township, Benton county, three miles south of Brandon Aug. 9, 1917. He attended the country school there and lived there until he enlisted at Independence Mar. 10, 1941.
Following a year and a half of training, he was sent overseas to the south Pacific. He died in a Leyte hospital Mar. 4, 1945, where he was taken after being wounded on Feb. 8 while actively engaged in fighting near Bamban on Luzon.
He was awarded the Combat Infantry badge and the Purple Heart medal. His body was shipped from a USAF cemetery in the Philippine Islands.
Private Baker is survived by his father, Spring Creek township; four sisters, Mrs. G. F. Berry, Brandon, Mrs. Fred Clevenger, Richmond, Cal., Mrs. Dean Hemingson, Osage, and Mrs. Robert Young, La Porte City; two brothers, Percy of Waterloo, and Carl, at home.
His mother preceded him in death Apr. 18, 1921.
Funeral services will be Sunday at 2 p. m. at the Johannsen funeral home with Rev. Oliver Jensen of the local Methodist church officiating.
Burial will be in Bear Creek cemetery near Brandon.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, September 08, 1948, Section 2, Page 15
