Three Forks of the Kentucky River Historical Association

Owsley's Typical Fighting Soldier Walter Baker

A mountain man from a remote and sparsely settled section
of Kentucky, representative of countless men like himself.
By A. Wade Wells
Transcribed and Submitted by Harley T. Bowling

In our war-conscious nation's capital where everybody is engaged in the struggle to save our country from being destroyed by ruthless and murderous dictators, the writer sought to find a typical representative of American fighting man.

The great mass of enlisted soldiers win wars directed by a fewer number of skilled officers.

Organic individual soldier tests the responsibility and burden of saving our nation; a man who will fight to the last ditch and then beyond.

At Mt. Alto Veteran's Hospital, Washington, D. C., attention was directed to a tall man who kept to himself. He did not join groups of other patients engaged in card games or talk-fests, fighting the war over again, mostly immortalizing their own personal deeds of valor.

A look at the identification card on the quiet man's hospital bed disclosed that he was Walter Baker from Mistletoe, Kentucky. His military record disclosed his story.

Did you ever try to interview a soldier bearing the battle scars of four severe wounds? Such a man will not relate details of his experience on a battle-field where he has been surrounded by men dead from the shock of shell explosions without a single wound or mark on their bodies. While men are blown completely out of existence by exploding bombs; the horror of seeing the maimed, torn, dismembered and bleeding remains of soldiers who a moment before were able-bodied and fighting at his side; the air filled with flying shrapnel, machine gun bullets and with light and heavy artillery barrages.

Such a man has little if anything to say about his part in winning the war. He may be thinking of wounded comrades calling for help or water that could not be given due to the fierceness of the engagement.

Such a man is Walter Baker who was born in the sparsely settled mountains of southeastern Kentucky, one of a family of nine children, six boys and three girls.

Baker did not wait for the draft, but volunteered at Booneville, KY., on June 6, 1917. He became a member of the 149^th Infantry and went overseas, landing at Liverpool, England with the 38^th Division. This outfit was rushed to the front at Chateau Thierry and immediately engaged in action. Within twelve hours of battle, the 265 men in Baker's outfit were killed or out of the fight due to wounds with the exception of 14 soldiers.

Not a single commissioned or non commissioned officer was left among the 14 survivors.

Although Baker was drenched with his own blood from a shrapnel wound in his shoulder, he took command of these remaining men and fought forward and destroyed the surviving Huns in their own front-line trench on that sector. No quarter was asked or given on either side due to the fierceness of this engagement.

To capture this trench was something. For so small a number to hold it with hand Rifles and Bayonets for the remainder of the day and far into the night until reinforcements arrived was more of the same thing.

Baker was removed to Hospital Base Number 13 from Meuse River front. After three weeks his wounds had healed sufficiently well to enable him to report for duty at the front at his own request.

Baker was then made a sergeant. He next saw action at Argonne Woods where he was again wounded. This was while leading a detachment which was detailed to destroy or wipe out a machine gun nest.

Baker lost over half of his men, killed in this action but completely annihilated the Hun machine gun nest. His arm and hand were shattered with machine gun bullets and one finger completely shot off. This did not seem serious enough to this quiet, determined mountain man or cause him to quit fighting and he did not, until he was later relieved and again returned to hospital. While recovering from his wounds in Vichey, the armistice was signed. Eventually, Baker was returned to the U. S. as a casualty. He was honorably discharged May 27, 1919 at Camp Taylor Kentucky.

Upon being discharged from the Army, Walter Baker returned to his mountain home near Mistletoe and married the girl he, left behind when he went to France.

In the world at large there are very few who have ever heard of Mistletoe, Ky., or know the story of this man who is now the father of seven children, two sons being in the present draft.

A man whom may would consider totally disabled, never learned how to quit. He has dug and chopped a livelihood from his native mountains.

This typical American Fighting soldier, who has given so much to his country and his family, has asked mighty little from his government or his neighbor. Of such men, a successful army is made.

Very few have seen the medal Walter Baker seldom wears that was issued to him by the Order of the Purple Heart for merit in action. Other than himself, no one knows the true meaning of marks for wounds engraved upon it.

The men who fought and were wounded under the command of General George Washington who created the Order of the Purple Heard, would understand, were they alive today.

Walter Baker only remained at Mt. Alto Hospital for a few days while undergoing a check-up on his physical condition. He did not take the time for sight-seeing but immediately returned to the mountain home when discharged.

While in the hospital at Mt Alto, the writer arranged for Walter Baker to see some of the leading sights of the Capitol. At first, Baker declined, saying that as yet, he had not had this opportunity and had no personal desire to gad about

He was told that his children at home might enjoy having their dad tell them about the sights he had seen there. He then took a three hour trip under the sponsorship of the Grey Ladies of the Red Cross and saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, and the Washington Monument standing a few minutes calling on the Congressman, Hon. John M. Robison.

Men like Walter Baker are fighting for us now. Wake, Pearl Harbor and Manila are fresh in mind. Such men will be fighting on our every front.

Nothing is really a sacrifice unless it hurts. We must give more than our share in money and work to keep the Walter Bakers fighting.