Richard was baptized at St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh as Richard Laurent Bélanger. His godparents were Truman Brault and Rose Desmarais.
One of the first marines to return to Plattsburgh from Korea. Sergeant Richard L. Baker, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Baker of Cumberland Head, a veteran of nearly a year of service in the costly campaign called on the recruiters at the U.S. Marine Office, City Hall, yesterday.
It was a casual call in a room where, three years ago, on August 11, 1948, he enlisted in the Corps. Yesterday, three years later, his uniform told a heroic story. It bore decorations- the ribbon of the Korean Campaign- with three bronze stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze bar; the United Nations Bar and a Good Conduct Ribbon. Sergeant Baker expressed happiness that there was no Purple Heart bar in his decorations, though he reticently admitted he had seen a "little action." What he went through, one might well surmise:-
After graduating from Plattsburgh High School he enlisted in the Marine Corps three years ago. There followed months of training, at Paris Island, SC, Camp Lejeune, NC., Quantico, VA., Camp Pendleton, Calif. Early September, 1950, found him in Japan for a five day stay, then onto a landing at Inchon, Korea, on September 15.
From then on, as a member of the First Engineer Battalion, First Marine Division, the course of duty brought him to Seoul, Wonsan, Hungan, Anhung, the Chosen Reservoir and Hagaru Ri where his unit was trapped for nine days during the big retreat last December.
It was there that the Unit Citation was earned, "It was nine days of hell," Sergeant Baker said. "We were never hungry, but cold at times in that Korean 20-30-below-zero-weather." The Air Force dropped them supplies in great quantities, he said, adding that many of those brought out of the trap were taken by helicopter.
Sergeant Baker spoke of many bridges and other installations that it was necessary to replace in the drive North and then again in the retreat South. All was in the line-of-duty, he said, and, though the men, encountered many hardships, morale was contained on a high level.
Relative to meeting area men on the field of battle, Sergeant Baker said that, during his months of active duty there, he "ran across" only two area men, both Marines. One was Sergeant Robert A. Miner of Schuyler Falls, the other Pfc. Clement Lapoint of Plattsburgh.
Sergeant Baker has 30 days at home. On Sep 12th, is scheduled to report to Quantico, VA for further orders
The above comes from the article, MARINE RETURNS FROM KOREA WAR, Plattsburgh Press-Republican August 16, 1951 (page 3).
Contributed by Susan Pombrio/jdb2018
One of the first marines to return to Plattsburgh from Korea. Sergeant Richard L. Baker, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Baker of Cumberland Head, a veteran of nearly a year of service in the costly campaign called on the recruiters at the U.S. Marine Office, City Hall, yesterday.
It was a casual call in a room where, three years ago, on August 11, 1948, he enlisted in the Corps. Yesterday, three years later, his uniform told a heroic story. It bore decorations- the ribbon of the Korean Campaign- with three bronze stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze bar; the United Nations Bar and a Good Conduct Ribbon. Sergeant Baker expressed happiness that there was no Purple Heart bar in his decorations, though he reticently admitted he had seen a "little action." What he went through, one might well surmise:-
After graduating from Plattsburgh High School he enlisted in the Marine Corps three years ago. There followed months of training, at Paris Island, SC, Camp Lejeune, NC., Quantico, VA., Camp Pendleton, Calif. Early September, 1950, found him in Japan for a five day stay, then onto a landing at Inchon, Korea, on September 15.
From then on, as a member of the First Engineer Battalion, First Marine Division, the course of duty brought him to Seoul, Wonsan, Hungan, Anhung, the Chosen Reservoir and Hagaru Ri where his unit was trapped for nine days during the big retreat last December.
It was there that the Unit Citation was earned, "It was nine days of hell," Sergeant Baker said. "We were never hungry, but cold at times in that Korean 20-30-below-zero-weather." The Air Force dropped them supplies in great quantities, he said, adding that many of those brought out of the trap were taken by helicopter.
Sergeant Baker spoke of many bridges and other installations that it was necessary to replace in the drive North and then again in the retreat South. All was in the line-of-duty, he said, and, though the men, encountered many hardships, morale was contained on a high level.
Relative to meeting area men on the field of battle, Sergeant Baker said that, during his months of active duty there, he "ran across" only two area men, both Marines. One was Sergeant Robert A. Miner of Schuyler Falls, the other Pfc. Clement Lapoint of Plattsburgh.
Sergeant Baker has 30 days at home. On Sep 12th, is scheduled to report to Quantico, VA for further orders
The above comes from the article, MARINE RETURNS FROM KOREA WAR, Plattsburgh Press-Republican August 16, 1951 (page 3).
Contributed by Susan Pombrio/jdb2018
Richard was baptized at St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh as Richard Laurent Bélanger. His godparents were Truman Brault and Rose Desmarais.
One of the first marines to return to Plattsburgh from Korea. Sergeant Richard L. Baker, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Baker of Cumberland Head, a veteran of nearly a year of service in the costly campaign called on the recruiters at the U.S. Marine Office, City Hall, yesterday.
It was a casual call in a room where, three years ago, on August 11, 1948, he enlisted in the Corps. Yesterday, three years later, his uniform told a heroic story. It bore decorations- the ribbon of the Korean Campaign- with three bronze stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze bar; the United Nations Bar and a Good Conduct Ribbon. Sergeant Baker expressed happiness that there was no Purple Heart bar in his decorations, though he reticently admitted he had seen a "little action." What he went through, one might well surmise:-
After graduating from Plattsburgh High School he enlisted in the Marine Corps three years ago. There followed months of training, at Paris Island, SC, Camp Lejeune, NC., Quantico, VA., Camp Pendleton, Calif. Early September, 1950, found him in Japan for a five day stay, then onto a landing at Inchon, Korea, on September 15.
From then on, as a member of the First Engineer Battalion, First Marine Division, the course of duty brought him to Seoul, Wonsan, Hungan, Anhung, the Chosen Reservoir and Hagaru Ri where his unit was trapped for nine days during the big retreat last December.
It was there that the Unit Citation was earned, "It was nine days of hell," Sergeant Baker said. "We were never hungry, but cold at times in that Korean 20-30-below-zero-weather." The Air Force dropped them supplies in great quantities, he said, adding that many of those brought out of the trap were taken by helicopter.
Sergeant Baker spoke of many bridges and other installations that it was necessary to replace in the drive North and then again in the retreat South. All was in the line-of-duty, he said, and, though the men, encountered many hardships, morale was contained on a high level.
Relative to meeting area men on the field of battle, Sergeant Baker said that, during his months of active duty there, he "ran across" only two area men, both Marines. One was Sergeant Robert A. Miner of Schuyler Falls, the other Pfc. Clement Lapoint of Plattsburgh.
Sergeant Baker has 30 days at home. On Sep 12th, is scheduled to report to Quantico, VA for further orders
The above comes from the article, MARINE RETURNS FROM KOREA WAR, Plattsburgh Press-Republican August 16, 1951 (page 3).
Contributed by Susan Pombrio/jdb2018
One of the first marines to return to Plattsburgh from Korea. Sergeant Richard L. Baker, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Baker of Cumberland Head, a veteran of nearly a year of service in the costly campaign called on the recruiters at the U.S. Marine Office, City Hall, yesterday.
It was a casual call in a room where, three years ago, on August 11, 1948, he enlisted in the Corps. Yesterday, three years later, his uniform told a heroic story. It bore decorations- the ribbon of the Korean Campaign- with three bronze stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze bar; the United Nations Bar and a Good Conduct Ribbon. Sergeant Baker expressed happiness that there was no Purple Heart bar in his decorations, though he reticently admitted he had seen a "little action." What he went through, one might well surmise:-
After graduating from Plattsburgh High School he enlisted in the Marine Corps three years ago. There followed months of training, at Paris Island, SC, Camp Lejeune, NC., Quantico, VA., Camp Pendleton, Calif. Early September, 1950, found him in Japan for a five day stay, then onto a landing at Inchon, Korea, on September 15.
From then on, as a member of the First Engineer Battalion, First Marine Division, the course of duty brought him to Seoul, Wonsan, Hungan, Anhung, the Chosen Reservoir and Hagaru Ri where his unit was trapped for nine days during the big retreat last December.
It was there that the Unit Citation was earned, "It was nine days of hell," Sergeant Baker said. "We were never hungry, but cold at times in that Korean 20-30-below-zero-weather." The Air Force dropped them supplies in great quantities, he said, adding that many of those brought out of the trap were taken by helicopter.
Sergeant Baker spoke of many bridges and other installations that it was necessary to replace in the drive North and then again in the retreat South. All was in the line-of-duty, he said, and, though the men, encountered many hardships, morale was contained on a high level.
Relative to meeting area men on the field of battle, Sergeant Baker said that, during his months of active duty there, he "ran across" only two area men, both Marines. One was Sergeant Robert A. Miner of Schuyler Falls, the other Pfc. Clement Lapoint of Plattsburgh.
Sergeant Baker has 30 days at home. On Sep 12th, is scheduled to report to Quantico, VA for further orders
The above comes from the article, MARINE RETURNS FROM KOREA WAR, Plattsburgh Press-Republican August 16, 1951 (page 3).
Contributed by Susan Pombrio/jdb2018
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