Don Carter Baker

Specialist Four
A CO, 1ST BN, 27TH INFANTRY, 25 INF DIV
Army of the United States
25 January 1942 - 01 April 1966
Ogema, Minnesota
Panel 06E Line 070

25 INF DIV

27TH INF RGT
Combat Infantry

Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Don Carter Baker

06 May 2008

Don was one of four from my home area who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. The others were David Stiyer, Errol Kent, along with Don from Ogema and Bob Rassel from Waubun. Don was the first person I knew who died in Vietnam. I remember hearing the news just days before high school graduation in 1966. After my own tour of duty in Vietnam I went on to become a career high school teacher. As a reminder to myself, and others, I created a tribute wall in the corner of my classroom dedicated to Don, Bob, David and Errol. I created it as a reminder as to how lucky and blessed I was to survive the Vietnam experience and to go on and have a successful teaching career. My wall included "rubbings" from both the National and Minnesota Vietnam Memorials as well as from the Moving Wall when it was in our area. In addition I added to it information I would find about them on the Internet. Over the years many, many students would ask me who these people were, how I knew them and what they were like. My answer was always: "Four of the finest people God ever placed on this earth!" As a teacher I was very privileged to have Don's niece and nephew in my classes. That will always be very special to me!

Time eases the pain, memories come and go, but the loss is forever. Errol, Don, Bob, and David - you are not forgotten.

Terry Teiken
tlteiken@yahoo.com



The point-of-contact for this memorial is
someone from the same home town,
Terry Teiken
tlteiken@yahoo.com



Top of Page

Virtual Wall icon
www.VirtualWall.org

Back to
To alpha index B
MN State Index . Panel 06E
27TH INF RGT Index

Webmaster@VirtualWall.org



With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 06 May 2008
Last updated 05/16/2008