Robert O. Baker '62
Service to Humanity
After graduating from Mechanicsburg High School, Bob Baker enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended the Corps of Engineers School at Ft. Belvoir, VA. He served from 1962-65 with the rank of SP4. With the education he acquired in the Army, Bob worked for United Engineers in Cherry Hill, NJ, and Brown & Root Engineers in Houston, TX. Bob earned a license in both Texas and Florida as a self-employed land surveyor. In 1995 he was forced to retire due to medical disabilities that were incurred while in the military.
After much persistence, Bob was awarded 100% disability pay retroactive to 1967 for his service- connected injuries. He donated a significant amount back to the Veterans Benefits Program in Washington, DC. Due to his difficulty in receiving benefits himself, Bob has since become an important advocate for other military veterans who struggle to get help from the federal government.
At his own expense, Bob traveled throughout Texas from 2000-2004 founding Vietnam Veterans of America chapters in 16 communities. By 2006 there were 26 chapters in Texas. He is a Life Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and has served as Texas State Council Agent Orange Chair and Membership Start-up Chair. He is a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, a member of the Second Infantry Division Association, the Second Engineers Combat Association, the American Legion, a Director of the Order of the Silver Rose and a Trustee for the Chapel of the Four Chaplains.
Bob has received numerous Awards of Appreciation by the VVA Region 7, comprised of the states of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma in recognition of his tireless efforts, unfading loyalty and unmatched devotion to his Vietnam Brothers and Sisters and many, many other honors. After being appointed Trustee of the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in 2006 he was awarded the prestigious Bronze Medalion for selfless service to the community. In 2007 Bob conducted the Chapel of Four Chaplains at Base Chapel at the Philadelphia Naval Yard where several MHS graduates were inducted into the Legion of Honor. In August of 2008 he will be conducting ceremonies at the American Legion National Convention in Phoenix and at the FBI National Convention in Hawaii.
In his home community of Schulenburg, Texas, he has been honored by the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce as Parade Marshal at the Annual Lighted Parade in recognition of his long-term service to the children, community and VVA. For many years Bob has played the role of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny for many Schulenburg organizations and appeared annually as the featured guest in the town's Christmas Parade along with his wife as Mrs. Claus.
Bob is married to his wife, Bonnie. He has three sons: David, a disabled Gulf War Army veteran, who lives in Texas; Thomas who works for Emeril Lagasse at Delmonico's Steak House in Las Vegas and Jeff, an engineer living in Pennsylvania. He has three stepdaughters: Heather, a lawyer; Michelle, a buyer for a high tech company; and Brooke, a medical student in Budapest.
Dorian Baker Neil, '66, is his sister and his brother, Fred Baker, '59 is deceased.
After much persistence, Bob was awarded 100% disability pay retroactive to 1967 for his service- connected injuries. He donated a significant amount back to the Veterans Benefits Program in Washington, DC. Due to his difficulty in receiving benefits himself, Bob has since become an important advocate for other military veterans who struggle to get help from the federal government.
At his own expense, Bob traveled throughout Texas from 2000-2004 founding Vietnam Veterans of America chapters in 16 communities. By 2006 there were 26 chapters in Texas. He is a Life Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and has served as Texas State Council Agent Orange Chair and Membership Start-up Chair. He is a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, a member of the Second Infantry Division Association, the Second Engineers Combat Association, the American Legion, a Director of the Order of the Silver Rose and a Trustee for the Chapel of the Four Chaplains.
Bob has received numerous Awards of Appreciation by the VVA Region 7, comprised of the states of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma in recognition of his tireless efforts, unfading loyalty and unmatched devotion to his Vietnam Brothers and Sisters and many, many other honors. After being appointed Trustee of the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in 2006 he was awarded the prestigious Bronze Medalion for selfless service to the community. In 2007 Bob conducted the Chapel of Four Chaplains at Base Chapel at the Philadelphia Naval Yard where several MHS graduates were inducted into the Legion of Honor. In August of 2008 he will be conducting ceremonies at the American Legion National Convention in Phoenix and at the FBI National Convention in Hawaii.
In his home community of Schulenburg, Texas, he has been honored by the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce as Parade Marshal at the Annual Lighted Parade in recognition of his long-term service to the children, community and VVA. For many years Bob has played the role of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny for many Schulenburg organizations and appeared annually as the featured guest in the town's Christmas Parade along with his wife as Mrs. Claus.
Bob is married to his wife, Bonnie. He has three sons: David, a disabled Gulf War Army veteran, who lives in Texas; Thomas who works for Emeril Lagasse at Delmonico's Steak House in Las Vegas and Jeff, an engineer living in Pennsylvania. He has three stepdaughters: Heather, a lawyer; Michelle, a buyer for a high tech company; and Brooke, a medical student in Budapest.
Dorian Baker Neil, '66, is his sister and his brother, Fred Baker, '59 is deceased.