DeForest L. Baker
LINCOLN/NEWPORT - DeForest L. Baker,
a career Navy man, died on Thursday, July 22, 2010, at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, Providence, RI.
He was the husband of Virginia Babiana Baker of Lincoln, RI and the late Irene Geraldine (Faggella) Baker of Newport, RI.
He was born April 26, 1927 in Gloversville, NY, son of the late Charles L. Baker and Clara Eva (Merikle) Baker. He lived in Newport, RI from 1948 to 1997 when he moved to Lincoln, RI.
He enlisted in the US Navy at 17 as an apprentice Seaman on September 11, 1944, and retired as Lieutenant Commander on June 30, 1974. During his naval career, he received numerous awards and citations, including expert pistol and rifle medals. He also received the following medals and awards: Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal with 4 Bronze Star Attachments, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star Attachment, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Star Attachments, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba), Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuba), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm), Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions Medal, first Class Color with Palm), Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia and Europe Clasp, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, China Service Medal and Honorable Service Lapel Pin.
Mr. Baker received his basic training (boot camp) at Sampson, NY, graduated Class A Gunnery School at Bainbridge, MD and completed training at Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA for the invasion of Japan. He was assigned to a converted LCI (G) when World War II ended. He then served on various ships, including the USS Iowa BB61 (16”/50) as Turret Captain, USS Columbus CA74 heavy cruiser, USS Portsmouth CL102 light cruiser, and four destroyers, USS Borderlon DDR881, USS Brownson DD868, USS McCaffrey DDE861 and USS Wallace L. Lind DD703.
His shore duty assignments were as a Drill Instructor at Bainbridge, MD and a Small Arms Instructor and Rifle Range Supervisor for the US Construction Battalion at Davisville, RI and Gunnery and Leadership Instructor at Fleet Training Center, Newport, RI. He was promoted through the ranks to permanent Chief Gunner Mate, accepting a commission as Ensign on December 7, 1961.
He served as an evaluator and instructor of gunnery, seamanship, navigation, Anti Submarine Warfare and missile shipboard rider at the Fleet Training Group at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from 1964 to 1965.
As part of his overseas duties (1969-1970), he was a member of Admiral Zumwalt’s staff in Vietnam and later as Da Nang Security Officer and Naval Base Security Officer of I Corp., Republic of South Vietnam. When he retired in 1974, he held the position of Logistic Support Fiscal Officer at the Fleet Training Center in Newport, RI.
Following his retirement from the Navy in 1974, Mr. Baker attended the University of Rhode Island and graduated with distinction in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He was a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America, a former member of the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 19, of Newport, RI, The American Legion and AARP. He was a strong supporter of St. John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Church in Woonsocket, RI.
He was an ardent reader of books pertaining to the Civil War and World War II and an avid gardener. He was a coach and manager of Little League and Babe Ruth teams in Newport for several years and a devoted New York Yankees baseball fan.
His two sons, Stephen John Baker of Newport, RI and Wayne DeForest Michael Baker of Valparaiso, FL, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive him.
He was also the brother of the late Stella Baker and Viola Blanchard of Gloversville, NY, and Eva Smimo of Lake Worth, FL.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, July 26, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring Street, Newport, RI, with visiting hours prior beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial at St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown, RI.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904, St. John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Church, 501 East School Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895, or to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 1260 Peary Street, Naval Station, Newport, RI 02841.
For more information visit www.onhfh.com
LINCOLN/NEWPORT - DeForest L. Baker,
a career Navy man, died on Thursday, July 22, 2010, at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, Providence, RI.
He was the husband of Virginia Babiana Baker of Lincoln, RI and the late Irene Geraldine (Faggella) Baker of Newport, RI.
He was born April 26, 1927 in Gloversville, NY, son of the late Charles L. Baker and Clara Eva (Merikle) Baker. He lived in Newport, RI from 1948 to 1997 when he moved to Lincoln, RI.
He enlisted in the US Navy at 17 as an apprentice Seaman on September 11, 1944, and retired as Lieutenant Commander on June 30, 1974. During his naval career, he received numerous awards and citations, including expert pistol and rifle medals. He also received the following medals and awards: Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal with 4 Bronze Star Attachments, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star Attachment, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Star Attachments, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba), Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuba), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm), Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions Medal, first Class Color with Palm), Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia and Europe Clasp, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, China Service Medal and Honorable Service Lapel Pin.
Mr. Baker received his basic training (boot camp) at Sampson, NY, graduated Class A Gunnery School at Bainbridge, MD and completed training at Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA for the invasion of Japan. He was assigned to a converted LCI (G) when World War II ended. He then served on various ships, including the USS Iowa BB61 (16”/50) as Turret Captain, USS Columbus CA74 heavy cruiser, USS Portsmouth CL102 light cruiser, and four destroyers, USS Borderlon DDR881, USS Brownson DD868, USS McCaffrey DDE861 and USS Wallace L. Lind DD703.
His shore duty assignments were as a Drill Instructor at Bainbridge, MD and a Small Arms Instructor and Rifle Range Supervisor for the US Construction Battalion at Davisville, RI and Gunnery and Leadership Instructor at Fleet Training Center, Newport, RI. He was promoted through the ranks to permanent Chief Gunner Mate, accepting a commission as Ensign on December 7, 1961.
He served as an evaluator and instructor of gunnery, seamanship, navigation, Anti Submarine Warfare and missile shipboard rider at the Fleet Training Group at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from 1964 to 1965.
As part of his overseas duties (1969-1970), he was a member of Admiral Zumwalt’s staff in Vietnam and later as Da Nang Security Officer and Naval Base Security Officer of I Corp., Republic of South Vietnam. When he retired in 1974, he held the position of Logistic Support Fiscal Officer at the Fleet Training Center in Newport, RI.
Following his retirement from the Navy in 1974, Mr. Baker attended the University of Rhode Island and graduated with distinction in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He was a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America, a former member of the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 19, of Newport, RI, The American Legion and AARP. He was a strong supporter of St. John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Church in Woonsocket, RI.
He was an ardent reader of books pertaining to the Civil War and World War II and an avid gardener. He was a coach and manager of Little League and Babe Ruth teams in Newport for several years and a devoted New York Yankees baseball fan.
His two sons, Stephen John Baker of Newport, RI and Wayne DeForest Michael Baker of Valparaiso, FL, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive him.
He was also the brother of the late Stella Baker and Viola Blanchard of Gloversville, NY, and Eva Smimo of Lake Worth, FL.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, July 26, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring Street, Newport, RI, with visiting hours prior beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial at St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown, RI.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904, St. John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Church, 501 East School Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895, or to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 1260 Peary Street, Naval Station, Newport, RI 02841.
For more information visit www.onhfh.com