Forest Grove veteran of three wars turns 100

Tom Baker turned 100 on Monday, and the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran was honored by Forest Grove American Legion Post 2 with a ceremony in front of friends, family, fellow residents, and staff of the Marquis Assisted Living Center.

According to a biography compiled by Marquis Campus Activity Director LaRayne Barrios, Master Sergeant Tom Baker began his service in the United States Marine Corps the same month the U.S. entered World War II in December 1941.

Following his time in the Marines in World War II, he served from 1945 to 1951 in the Marine Corps Reserve, then returned to active duty during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Baker left active duty in March 1969 and returned to the reserves until the mid-1970s.

In total, he served for nearly 35 years.

On Monday Aug. 11, Baker sat under a shaded tree as members of American Legion Post 2 posted the American and U.S. Marine Corps flags, accompanied by two rifle bearers, a bugler, and U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Douglas Watson.

Remarks by Post 2 Commander Dale Thaler, Watson, and other members of the legion followed.

Post 2 Adjutant Wendy Berger-Wood, who also serves as the vice commander of Oregon Department District 1 spoke briefly.

In a moment that drew gasps of admiration, Berger-Wood, presenting on behalf of Department of Oregon Commander Renee Ohler, unfurled a Pendleton Grateful Nation blanket.

The blanket, red and adorned with stripes representing service ribbons awarded to veterans of historical conflicts from World War II on, was draped on Baker's shoulders.

Following the ceremony, there was only one thing left to do: sing "Happy Birthday," and blow out the candles on a cake.

Baker participated in the Guadalcanal campaign during World War II, serving alongside World War II fighter pilot aces Pappy Boyington and Joe Foss.

Barrios described Baker's role in the Marines as being in aircraft maintenance and as a crash investigator.

During World War II, a particularly bad bout of malaria nearly ended his life. Shipped stateside to recover, his recovery was so uncertain a letter was inadvertently sent to his mother, "saying he had not made it," according to Barrios.

A few years ago, staff at the Marquis Forest Grove Assisted Living recreated Guadalcanal in the facility's backyard. The experience brought back memories of running out of food and eating whatever his unit could find.

"He recalls being down by the water and at night the skies lighting up with gunfire over his head," Barrios wrote. "Tom said it was a beautiful country, just not the gunfire."

"The Marines was my life, I enjoyed my time in the service and I am happy to serve my country," Baker said.

Also present was Tom Baker's son, also named Tom Baker. In fact, he's third in a line of Tom Bakers who've served in the military.

"Old Tom, Big Tom, and Little Tom," the younger Baker said, noting that their family's military heritage stretched back to at least the American Civil War.