Born in Dixon, IL, in 1914. Ronald F. Baker, was a jeep driver for Co. B, 167th Engineer Combat Battalion. On Saturday morning, the 12th of August, 1944, LT Orphan Zeigler requested a driver for reconnaissance duties. Leaving their camp near Laval, France , Zeigler, Cpl. Virgil Newlin, Cpl. Edward Nicholson, with driver Cpl. Ronald F. Baker set out to chart possible routes ahead of Patton's 3rd armored column. Just outside of the town of Villaines-la-Juhel, they encountered a German machine gun nest behind the hedgerow. As the enemy opened fire, they struck Baker killing him instantly. The Lieutenant, realizing Baker didn't dive for the ditch as he and the others did, tried to get to the jeep to retrieve Baker not realizing he was dead. As a result, Lt. Ziegler took 3 bullets to his hip and back. The three were forced to surrender and were taken prisoner. The Germans evacuated the area taking the three men with. The townspeople erected this monument in 1948.