JOHN F. BAKER IS CASUALTY
Staff Sergeant Listed As Missing in Italy Since July 1.
A report earlier this week that Staff Sgt. John F. Baker, son of Mrs. Sarah Baker of Washington, D. C., formerly of this city, was missing in action, has been verified with receipt of news here by relatives and friends.
Sergeant Baker, according to the war department message received by his mother, is listed as missing in the Italian sector, July 1.
Baker, 26, left this city with the Iowa National Guard in February, 1941, and took his early training at Camp Claiborne, La.
Following the company’s transfer overseas, he served in north Ireland, England and north Africa before being moved to the Italian theater.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA – July 26, 1944
26 FROM IOWA LOST IN ACTION
WASHINGTON, D. C. (AP)—The War Department Saturday listed 26 Iowa soldiers as missing in action in the European and Mediterranean theaters. They were:
EUROPEAN.
Algona—Staff Sergeant Robert W. Thompson.
Audubon—Sergt. Donald C. Munksgaard.
Boone—Second Lieutenant Robert W. Ward.
Cedar Rapids—Pvt. (f.c.) Harvey H. Wehde.
Council Bluffs—Corp. Dale E. Gustafson.
Des Moines—Pvt. (f.c.) Lester W. Pfannkuch.
Dubuque—Lieut. Arthur C. Toepel.
Gladbrook—Second Lieutenant Elmer C. Dudolski.
Iowa City—Lieut. Col. Don L. Weiss.
Keystone—Pvt (f.c.) Orlean E. Koeppen.
Knoxville—Capt. Richard A. Gee.
Marshalltown—Second Lieutenant Marion A. Gard.
Mason City—Capt. William C. Whorley.
Menlo—Pvt. (f.c.) Kenneth L. Powell.
Pella—Pvt. (f.c.) David M. Thomas.
Sewal—Staff Sergeant Dallas G. Couchman.
Shenandoah—Lieut. Ralph E. Deweese.
Sioux Rapids—Flight Officer Joseph Meleky.
MEDITERRANEAN.
Delta – Staff Sergeant Leonard D. Tygart.
Dubuque – Pvt. William E. Hoffman; Lieut. Robert T. Moran.
Iona – Pvt. Vern F. Abel.
Iowa City – Second Lieutenant Vincent C. Hogan.
Marshalltown – Pvt. (f. c.) John J. Gannon.
New Market – Pvt. (f. c.) Leroy F. Teeters.
Webster City – Staff Sergeant John F. Baker.
Source: The Des Moines Register, August 27, 1944
HEAR FROM BAKER
Direct word has been received here by friends and relatives that Staff Sgt. John F. Baker of this city, who was taken prisoner by German forces in Italy the first of July, is getting along well in prison camp somewhere in Germany. Sergeant Baker was with the ING company from this city which is attached to the 34th “Red Bull” division in Italy. His present address: Staff Sgt. John F. Baker, U. S. P. O. W. 134052, Stalag-7-A, Germany. Some of the items recommended by the Red Cross for sending to prisoners include: soap, towels, wash cloths, combs, brushes, razors and blades, games and cards, foodstuffs such as dried fruits, macaroni, soups, cocoa, hard candy, and various types of clothing.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA – September 18, 1944
Obituary:
John F. Baker
John F. Baker, 69, rural Duncombe, died Friday, March 10, at the Veteran’s Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services were held today at 1:30 p.m. at the Foster Funeral Home, Webster City, Rev. Raymond M. Roden officiating. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery, with graveside flag folding services conducted by American Legion Post 191 of Webster City.
John Franklin Baker, son of Frank and Sarah Tymeson Baker, was born April 1, 1919 in Pocahontas. He was educated in Pocahontas and Webster City. At the age of 10, he moved with his family to Webster City. He entered the U.S. Army in 1941, with the Company E Red Bull Division. He served in numerous campaigns before becoming a prisoner of war. He retired from the Army in 1962. He married Gloria M. Reside on Oct. 4, 1962, in Jonestown, Pa. The couple moved to Duncombe in 1979.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria, Duncombe; two sons, John F. Baker, Jr., Dallas, Texas, and Carl L. Baker, Bethel, Pa.; one daughter, Dianne M. (Mrs. Leonard) Balutis, Reno, Nev.; three grandsons and one granddaughter; two sisters, Carol (Mrs. Harold) Hagen, Webster City, and Ruth Baker, Falls Church, Va.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.
Mr. Baker was a member of the VFW Post of Webster City, the American Veterans of Greater Lebanon, Pa., and the Webster City Moose Lodge.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, March 13, 1989
John Franklin Baker, Staff Sgt. U.S. Army - MIA/POW
John Franklin Baker was born Apr. 1, 1919 to Frank N. and Sarah Tymeson Baker. He died March 10, 1989, and is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Staff Sgt. John F. Baker was reported missing in action in Italy, July 1, 1944. He left with the Iowa National Guard company which is attached to the 34th, “Red Bull” division and has served in north Ireland, England and north Africa before being moved to the Italian theater.
In Sept. 1944 he was reported taken prisoner by German forces.
Sources:
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com
