Military Experience Walter E. Baker Jr. enlisted on November 25th, 1940, and he was assigned in the 60th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division. At the time of enlistment, he weighted 149 pounds and stood at 5'8". The 60th Infantry Regiment at the time was under the command of Colonel Frederick J. de Rohan. The 60th Regiment was created on June 10th, 1917 and was nicknamed the Go Devils. Although unsure when, during his time with the 60th Infantry Regiment, Baker is promoted to the rank of technical sergeant. During Baker’s time with the 60th regiment, he experiences battles in Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, and North France. Tunisia Operation Torch was designed to trap Axis forces between two flanks composed by British and American Forces. This flanking eventually ends with a German retreat and the Allies push for more and set up an offensive. This leads to the 60th Regimental Combat Team and the Corps Franc d’Afrique carrying out an operation to flank across the coast and ensuring the complete entrapment of the Axis’ troops. A member of the 60th Regimental Combat Team describes the terrain traveled as “a continuous challenge to the ingenuity, perseverance, and fortitude of our troops”. On April 23rd, 1943, under the command of Major Kauffman, the 60th Infantry Regiment begins their attack German troops. The Germans retaliate the next morning surrounding the 60th Regiment with artillery fire on all four sides. The 60th Infantry Regiment holds and eventually the Germans were forced out of Tunisia by the rest of the 9th Infantry Division and Bizerte. Sicily The Allied invasion of Sicily would help free Mediterranean Shipping from Axis attacks and boot Italy out of the war. On August 15th, 1943, the 60th Infantry Regiment collaborated with the 4th Tabour of Guorns; they flanked Troina with forced German troops to withdraw and left the Germans within Troina vulnerable to attack. The 9th Infantry Division withdraws after leaving the rest to the 3rd Infantry Division to take Messina, and the troops from the division head to England to train. English Training On November 27th, 1943, the 9th Infantry Division arrives in England to undergo military training. The men of the 60th Infantry Regiment, specifically, moved into Winchester while training and resting at Camp Bushfield. These infantrymen were taught and tested on basic manners during training, and during leisure time, they toured Winchester’s historical sites and entertainments. Normandy On June 10th, 1944, the 60th Infantry Regiment experiences battle on European soil on day four of D-Day. Orders were first given to the 60th Regiment to march toward Ste. Colombe. The 2nd Battalion of the 60th Regiment overran German defenses, set up a bridgehead on the Douve River, and held this dangerous position for nearly 7 hours; because of this aggressiveness, the 2nd Battalion was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. Death in North France On July 10th, 1944, the 9th Infantry Division was included with an offensive push into Northern France. During this push, ally heavy bombers bombed allied troops which led to causalities among the 1st battalion and 2nd battalion; however, the 3rd battalion suffered heavily. During this push with the 2nd battalion near La Couperie is where Walter E. Baker Jr. dies in battle in Northern France.