Private First Class Baker was a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 31 August 1950 and returned to duty 7 September 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 26 November 1950.

Baker was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.