PFC William Church Baker was born on August 10, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois, to Ralph G. Baker and Margaret Church-Baker. With his two sisters he was raised in Chicago and at 10303 Canterbury Street, Westchester, Illinois. He attended Westchester schools and then Proviso Township High School and graduated, as class president, in 1943. After high school in attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. While he was a student there, he registered with Selective Service on August 10, 1943, and named his father as his contact person. After starting his first semester at MIT, he left school and appears to have enlisted the US Army on November 9, 1943. His Serial Number was 36, 770, 646.
What is known is that he trained at Fort Riley, Kansas and Fort Benning, Georgia. He was assigned to Company F, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. During this time the division did what was termed as mountain training. At some point, he was offered the opportunity to attend Officer Candidates’ School and rejected the opportunity because he wanted to go overseas with his unit. The 100th left the United States on October 6, 1944.
It is known that 100th was sent into action at the beginning of December 1944 in near Bitche, France, and was involved in fierce fighting. It was at this time that records show that Pfc. William C. Baker was killed in action, on December 6, 1944, by shrapnel from a booby trap that apparently cut the artery in his right thigh. Records indicate he was buried, in a shelter half, on December 8, 1944, at the United States Military Cemetery, Hochfelden, France, in Plot A, Row 9, Grave 103, with a wooden cross marking his grave. Sometime in December, his parents were notified of his death.
In a letter dated October 2, 1946, his father received the letter informing of William’s burial. and the location of his grave in the cemetery.
2 October 1946
Mr. Ralph G. Baker
10303 Canterbury Street
C/0 Maywood Post Office
Westchester, Illinois
Dear Mr. Baker:
The War Department is most desirous that you be furbished information regarding the burial location of your son, the late Sergeant William O. Baker, A.S.N. 36 770 646.
The records of this office disclose that his remains are interred in the U. S. Military Cemetery, Hochfelden, plot A, row 9, grave 103. You may be assured that the identification and interment have been accomplished with fitting dignity and solemnity.
This cemetery is located fifteen miles northwest of Strasburg, France, and is under the constant care and supervision of the United States personnel.
The War Department has now been authorized to comply, at Government expense, with the feasible wishes of the next of kin regarding final interment, here or abroad, of the remains of your loved one. At a later date, this office will, without any action on your part, provide the next of kin with full information and solicit his detailed desires.
Please accept my sincere sympathy in your great loss.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
T. B. LARKIN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
In the letter, for some unknown reason, his rank was stated as sergeant. This would continue, on and off, until a letter was sent by the on October 28, 1947 stated that the Quartermaster Corps made an error his rank was Private First Class. Between these letters, in a letter dated May 27, 1947, his father received information on the options available to him for William’s final burial. He was asked to fill-out and return to the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, an enclosed form indicating where he wanted his son buried. The form was received by the OQMG on November 8, 1947, and indicated that his father wanted William returned to the United States.
From St. Avold, France, by train, WIlliam’s remains were sent to the OIC Casketing Point, Antwerp, Belgium. His casketed remains were placed on the USAT Haiti Victory on April 22, 1949. The ship arrived at the New York Point of Entry on May 6, 1949. By train, with a military escort, his casket was sent to the Quartermaster Corp’s Distribution Center #8, Chicago. In a government hearse his casket was taken to Paul W. Senne Funeral Home in Maywood. on June 21, 1949. PFC William C. Baker in Section F, Lot 620, Grave 3 at Mount Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, Illinois, on June 27, 1949.
