More than memoir, the letters, sketches and photographs from a soldier on the front line of America’s first war against communist expansion offers the reader more than a macro-view of the conflict. Neither historical overview, nor outline of grand strategy told by those far from front line butchery, Tanker’s War is an ordinary man’s experience of grand geopolitical strategy at the place where diplomacy gives way to bayonet. And there lies its power. While the many photographs offer testimony to the effects of war more eloquent than any prose, the letters from a young man thrust into the killing fields yield a candid honesty as valid as anything written by any soldier in any war. A soldier's story in a soldier's words, USMC TANKER’S KOREA will prove invaluable researchers, to historians, to anyone with interest in The Korean War, the men who fought it, and the scars it left behind.
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Editorial Reviews
From the Author
Every since I arrived home to the United States of America from the Korean War battlefields I promised myself that someday I wanted to write about my experiences as a youth and as a Marine in Korea. I wanted to honor all those that served there no matter what branch of service. However my main reason was to honor those that were my friends and buddies that were killed and wounded while serving our country and the South Koreans who were brutally attacked by the North Koreans and Communist Chinese.
When I had the opportunity to finally write my first manuscript draft just a few years ago, I posted a few pages on a web site. I received several requests for a copy of my manuscript from those that served there as well as wives, daughters, sons and friends that either lost someone in the Korean War or could never get their husband, father or friend to talk about what they that survived had gone through. I even received a request from a high school student. I sent a copy of my manuscript to each one.
By God's grace I found a publisher that wished to publish my Korean War memoirs and it has been published just about a month before I boarded a ship destined for Korea. That was 50 years ago.
So, Mondal Ammons from Sweetwater, Texas; Robert "Red" Wheeler from Bakersfield, California and Leonard Todd of Austin, Texas...you have been with me all these years since you were killed serving your country. I will never forget you. Nor will I forget other buddies that served or were wounded or have since passed away. Ron Bay, Ernie Crawford, Lt. Joe Muser, Capt. Milton Raphael, SSgt Chris Sarno, Richard Drayer, Cecill Abbott, Shirley Cavender, John Putis, Raymond Faup, Virgil Cassady, John J. Campbell, George R. Saunders, Ashworth, Bill Koutz, "Doc" Holiday, and so many more including my Korean Marine Corps friend I called "Pisano."
Roger "Rog" G. Baker
About the Author
Roger G. Baker was born in St. Louis, Missouri on December 2, 1932 and was the third child of Ralph W. Baker and June Worthington Baker. He has an elder sister, Bettie Jane Windsor, an elder brother, Ralph W. Baker Jr. and a younger brother, Barry W. Baker. His family moved to the desert of Pearblossem, California when he was about two years old. His earliest memories there, was walking over the barren desert among sidewinders and at night hearing the lonely cries of coyotes. The family eventually moved to Culver City, California where he attended Culver City Grammar School and Alexander Hamilton High School in West Lost Angeles. He was active in all sports, especially football. He spent summer vacations during high school at YMCA camp as an assistant lifeguard, camping and fishing one summer with a friend at Big Bear Lake. At the age of 16 he and his same friend, Gene Chamberlain, worked their way across much of the United States for three months starting out in a 1936 Oldsmobile. They dug ditches in New Mexico; delivered circulars for a market Grand Opening in Oklahoma; worked the wheat harvest in Kansas and Nebraska and potato farms in Minnesota. Roger joined the United States Marine Corps and was inducted on January 20, 1951 at age 18. After 10 weeks of boot camp at the USMC recruitment center in San Diego, he was then trained as a combat infantryman at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California. He spent a year in the Korean War with the 3rd Platoon, Able Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division with over 11 months of front line combat from July 1951 through July 1952, first as a loader and then as a tank gunner. Upon his return to the United States he spent some time in the Naval hospital as a result of a war injury. He was honorably discharged on January 19, 1954. After a year studying as a commercial artist at Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles and later working as a salesman for Nehi Beverage Company, be joined Executone of Southern California, an international telecommunications company, as an outside salesman in October 1956. He owned and ran his own Executone Distributorship (Executone of Hawaii, Ltd.) in Hawaii from 1962—1975. He continued his career with Executone both in sales and as the VP/GM for Executone of Colorado from 1978—1987 and later as the manager for two long distance companies in Southern California. Roger has four adult children, Dan Baker, Ellen Baker Rich, James Baker and Clint Baker. He resides in Pensacola, Florida with his wife of 23 years. After passing the Florida State Real Estate Sales exam, he sold real estate. In 1998 and 1999, he and his wife, Jan, were injured in serious automobile accidents, from which they are recovering. Roger is a Disabled American Veteran.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
YOU'RE IN FOR A TREAT,
By Chris Sarno (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: USMC Tanker's Korea: The War in Photos, Sketches, and Letters Home (Hardcover)
S/SGT CHRIS SARNO - USMC The creator of this tome puts you squarely behind the devasting 90mm weapon on his M-46A1 Patton class tank; plus, many more direct fire adventures and those side trips to teduim and despair that is synonymous with the eternal, war-weary combat tankers. This was all accomplished through letters sent home by the storyteller and preserved by a loving and sagacious mother. In this depiction of the War in Korea, puncuated by death and despair, it also demonstrated the elixir of daily victories against a resolute and formidale enemy in mortal combat. This is not only a superior read but also a treat to the eye with a profusion of on-the-scene photos and the authors's penchant at illustrated drawings and sketches well done. It also explores the intensive training of all Marines who volunteered to go to Korea and to serve in the Fleet Marine Force. This literary work personalized and covered a myriad of what Marine tankers were all about: their virulent mindset, and their military accomplishements in the field, which unfolded day in and night out. Roger Baker's natural style unmasks the naked truth of how Marines survive under combat conditions and the trials and tribulations of conduct in the Reserve area. He even has the veracity to share his reason for existence with his personal life. His writing of such, symbolized the youth of America; regardless, to his country's pathetic apathy on what was taking place in Korea 1950-1953. Take for instance, the Bon-Voyage out of Korea in the final chapter. With all the death and destruction behind this exodus, the rip-roaring climax mirrors there was no safe haven in Korea. It was a full blown War in Korea, who am I? Just another combat Marine tanker who squeezed the 90 mm trigger just like the humble but eloquent author. Semper Fidelis The End
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
THE FORGOTTEN WAR REMEMBERED,
By A Customer
This review is from: USMC Tanker's Korea: The War in Photos, Sketches, and Letters Home (Hardcover)
This book took me to a place I knew nothing about, and did it with language vivid as the photos that stud the text. Perfect? No. Moving? Yes. This is war. Read and learn.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Feeling like I was there,
By Cheryl Abbott (Lakewood, WA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: USMC Tanker's Korea: The War in Photos, Sketches, and Letters Home (Hardcover)
I found myself many times feeling as though I was there with Roger. There were times I laughed and had tears. I especially like the idea of his personal account of what it was like being a young man so far from home, building new relationships and dealing with losing those close to him. I'm thankful Roger wrote home consistenly and his family saved all his letters and drawings, more than that I am thankful Roger has shared his experience with us, taking many of us to a place we have never been, but walked away feeling what it was like to have been there.
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