Charles Hugh Baker

Chief Motor Machinist's Mate, US Navy

Service #4142062

Assigned to the
USS Argonaut SM-1,
Pacific Theater of Operations

Died on January 10, 1943
Near New Britain Island, See Note 1
Officially Listed as Killed In Action,
Remains Lost At Sea after the sinking of the USS Argonaut

Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Philippines

As listed in FindAGrave.com Memorial 56780983

USS Argonaut (CA-35)
Photograph taken in about 1930. V-4 was renamed Argonaut in 1931.
Image courtesy of the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, Photograph NH 61687.

Awards:

Purple Heart
Medal

American Defense
Service Medal

American Campaign
Service Medal

Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign Medal

World War II
Victory Medal

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Medal Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
American Defense Service Medal Awarded for service between September 8, 1939 and December 7, 1941 under orders to active duty for a period of 12 months or longer.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Awarded for military service with the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.

CMMOM Charles Hugh Baker entered the US Navy on or before June 14, 1940 from Washington State.

Next of Kin Notified:
Wife, Mrs. Dorothy Francis Baker, Box 37, Stellacoom, Washington

His loss is recorded in the
State Summary of War Casualties, Washington, page 2, Navy and USMC Dead,
published by the U.S Navy in February 1946.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
No ABMC Form 1, Headstone Inscription And Interment Record
Yes American Battle Monuments Commission website listing, see below
No Eyewitness Statement or Report
Yes Memorial Marker Photo(s), Find A Grave
Yes Official Navy After Action Report Argonaut I (SF-7)
Yes Photo of veteran, Find A Grave
No Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
No WWII Draft Card Data

ABMC Records:
Charles H. Baker
Service #4142062
Chief Motor Machinist's Mate, U.S. Navy
Entered Service From, Washington
Date of Death, January 10, 1943
Status, Missing In Action
Memorialized, Walls of the Missing,
Manila American Cemetery, Philippines
Awards: Purple Heart
End of Record

WWII Draft Card Data
No Record Found

Note 1: The death location, "At New Britain Island" is based on the following data found on Naval-History.net:

A. The American Battle Monuments Commission: "BAKER, Charles H, Chief Motor Machinist's Mate, 4142062, USN, from Washington, Jan-44, Manila American Cemetery".

B. US Naval Memorial: "BAKER, Charles, CMOMM, USN, Argonaut SM-1, January 10, 1943".

C. POW/MIA Accounting Agency: BAKER, Charles H, CMOMMA, 4142062, USN, from Washington, USS Argonaut, location New Britain Island, missing, date of loss January 10, 1943

D. States Lists from National Archives: BAKER, Charles Hugh, Chief Motor Machinist's Mate, USN. Wife, Mrs. Dorothy Francis Baker, Box 37, Steilacoom, Wash.

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Washington State > Pierce County Army, AAF, Navy, USMC, USCG, Last Names A to G > Charles Hugh Baker

Page last updated September 2, 2022