Lt Col Isaac M. B-A-K-E-R was born in 1913. In 1931, at the young age of 17, he enlisted in Co K, 1st Virginia Infantry, 29th Division. In 1938, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 176th Infantry, 29th Division. He stayed with this Regiment (now separated from the 29th) throughout 1941, 1942, 1943, and 1944 rising to the rank of Major. Biding his time stateside as a training Battalion Commander, he graduated Ground Liaison School in October of 1944 and was quickly shipped overseas to the 2689th Ground Liaison Detachment in the 5th Army. Upon completion of that assignment he was assigned to the HQ, 7th Army as the Air Liaison Officer.
As an ALO, B-A-K-E-R collected and evaluated information about adversary targets and would recommend targets for Close Air Support missions AND strategic bombing campaigns by the Army Air Force. This man's job is especially near and dear to me as I am doing the same job 75 years later in the USAF as a targeting office. He would further the targeting process by controlling the actual attack by fighter bombers when laying munitions on to the target, establishing bomb safety/close support lines, and then further collected/forwarded information on to higher HQs. B-A-K-E-R would also perform low angle photography from Liaison A/C and distribute the images to front line troops. This man performed cradle to grave targeting, weaponeering, and intelligence dissemination!
He would ultimately spend 14 months in the European Theater and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for sustained direct support of combat Ops. He would also be awarded 4x Campaign Stars on his EAME ribbon.
B-A-K-E-R separated from active duty in April of 1946 as a Lt Col. He then continued his service to this nation with the 2nd Bn, 80th (Airborne) Div, retiring in 1955
He organized a very successful mechanical contracting firm in Virginia and passed away in 1995 at the age of 82.
Thanks for looking!
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