Wilder D. Baker
| Wilder DuPuy Baker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
July 22, 1890 Topeka, Kansas |
| Died |
November 10, 1975 (aged 85) Bay City, Michigan |
| Allegiance |
 |
| Service/ |
 |
| Years of service | 1910–1952 |
| Rank |
 |
| Service number | 0-8703 |
| Commands held |
USS North Carolina USS S-13 USS S-11 USS Kidder |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II Cold War |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit |
| Relations | Floyd Perry Baker (grandfather) |
Wilder DuPuy Baker (July 22, 1890 – November 10, 1975) was a highly decorated United States Navy vice admiral, who received a Navy Cross for his actions during World War II.[1]
Early career
Wilder DuPuy Baker was born on July 22, 1890, in Topeka, Kansas, as a son of local newspaperman, Isaac Newcomb Baker, and grandson of Topeka editor Floyd Perry Baker. He attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and graduated in June 1914 with the rank of ensign. Baker subsequently attended the Submarine School in New London, Connecticut, where he was trained in submarine warfare.
With the outbreak of World War I, Baker served with submarine units in the European waters as lieutenant junior grade and later was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
Following the war, Baker was assigned to the submarine USS T-2 and served there until the beginning of January 1923, when he was appointed commander of the newly commissioned submarine USS S-11. He spent only few months aboard this vessel, before he was given command of another newly commissioned submarine, USS S-13 on July 14, 1923. Baker commanded this ship alongside the northeast coast of the United States and later in 1924 sailed to the Panama Canal Zone, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, and Trinidad.
Baker was promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander in 1925 and appointed commanding officer of the destroyer USS Kidder. He participated in the patrol duties in Caribbean with that ship and finally was transferred to command training battleship, USS Wyoming in 1932.
World War II
At the time of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, Baker served as commander of the Destroyer Squadron 31, which participated in the escort convoy duties in the Atlantic Ocean. One of the ships under his command was destroyer USS Reuben James, which was the first U.S. Navy ship sunk by hostile action.
Later in the war, Baker led the first naval attack against the Japanese home islands.[2]
He was a companion of the Naval Order of the United States (insignia number 3022).
Retirement
After retirement from the U.S. Navy on August 1, 1952, he was the leader of the public relations department of Solar Aircraft Company in San Diego, California.
Decorations
 | |||
    | |||
 |
  |
 | |
 |
 |
  | |
 |
  |
 | |
 |
 |
 | |
| Submarine Warfare insignia | ||||||||||||||||
| 1st Row | Navy Cross | Silver Star | Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row | Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one star | Navy Unit Citation with one star | |||||||||||||
| 3rd Row | World War I Victory Medal with Submarine Clasp | Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal | American Defense Service Medal with "A" Device | |||||||||||||
| 4th Row | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver and one bronze service stars | World War II Victory Medal | |||||||||||||
| 5th Row | Navy Occupation Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars | |||||||||||||
References
- ↑ "Wilder D. Baker". Militarytimes.com. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ "Adm. Wilder Baker, 85, Dies; Directed Nippon Isles Attack". Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA: The Bridgeport Post. November 10, 1975. p. 38.