World War II
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Fallen
Gackle
Finn Township
ND
Circumstances:
From WWII book:
BAKER, CLARENCE J. SN 37 593 493; born Gackle, North Dakota 1 Jun 24; resident Logan County, North Dakota; entered AUS Ft Snelling, Minnesota 25 Apr 44; served European African Middle Eastern Theater; died in service 5 Jan 45 Germany; PVT; buried in Plot B, Row 3, Grave 38 in Cambridge, England.
Killed in action.
Biography:
Clarence Baker was born June 1, 1924 to Ella Baker.
From American Legion Historian for Post 250 in Gackle ND:
Ella and Clarence were listed in the 1925 North Dakota Census as living in Gackle (no address was noted).
In the 1930 Federal Census, Clarence was living with John J. and Alina Wirkkunen and their three children, Ina, Hulda and Einart. They lived 3 miles East of Gackle. He was listed as a Step-Son and Nephew in the census. No other information was available.
Clarence enlisted in the US Army at Ft. Snelling, MN, on 25 April, 1944. He was likely one of many replacements shuttled into the many fierce battles as part of the Battle of Hurtgen Forest from September 19th through December 16, 1944.
In the weeks before Clarence’s death, the 22nd Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division fought in the Hurtgen Forest, toward Duren. This 4.5 mile advance cost over 2700 lives.
There is no record of when Clarence was wounded, but he died of his wounds in England, on January 5, 1945.
Buried at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial