Born in Rock Valley, Iowa on July 1, 1921, Fred W.T. Baker was the son of Neal and Kathryn Baker and had three sisters. Baker enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1939 at Ft. Meade, South Dakota. In July 1944, Baker was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. On September 1, 1944, his unit, the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, led a raid on German forces in Thionville, France in order to gain control of the bridge crossing the Moselle River there. Seeing his platoon commander wounded on the other side of the bridge, Sgt. Baker selflessly drove across the bridge and attempted to assist him and take charge of the platoon. This attempt, unfortunately, led to his death during the raid. Because of his heroic actions and outstanding bravery in battle, Baker posthumously received the Purple Heart and Silver Star. Baker is buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in France.