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First Name: Ronald

Last Name: Baum

Birthplace: Hollidaysburg, PA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Marines (present)



Middle Name: E.



Date of Birth: 22 July 1965

Date of Death: 03 May 2004

Rank: Gunnery Sergeant

Years Served: 1986 - 2004
Ronald E. Baum

   
Engagements:
•  Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) (2003 - 2011)

Biography:

Gunnery Sergeant Ronald E. Baum was born in Western Pennsylvania on 22 July 1965. Growing up in Pennsylvania, Ron was an avid sports fan, closely following the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Gunny Baum enlisted in the United States Marine Corps along with his younger brother Brian Baum on 26 March 1986 in Pittsburgh, PA. Gunny Baum attended Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island, SC. Upon graduation from boot camp, Gunny Baum was assigned as an 0351/Anti-Tank Assaultman. Gunny Baum's first posting in the infantry was with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, CA. He subsequently served a tour of duty with the 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment, also at Camp Pendleton, CA.

While serving as an Anti-Tank Assaultman, Gunny Baum participated in combat operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In April 1992 Gunny Baum effected a lateral move to the 0251/Interrogator-Translator MOS. In 1993 Gunny Baum attended the Defense Language Institute for instruction as a Spanish Linguist. Upon graduation from the Defense Language Institute, Gunny Baum was assigned to the 1st Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Intelligence Group, Camp Pendleton, CA. While serving with the 1st SRIG, Gunny Baum completed two west coast deployments with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

In 1998, Gunny Baum was involved in the evacuation of 172 personnel from the country of Eritrea during a border dispute with Ethiopia. After duty with the 1st SRIG, Gunny Baum was assigned to duty with the I&I Staff, 1st Battalion, 25 Marines in Topsham, ME, where he served as an instructor at the U.S. Navy's Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School. Gunny Baum's next assignment was with the 2d Counterintelligence/HUMINT Company, 2d Intelligence Battalion, II MEF, where Gunny Baum completed a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Djibouti. Upon his return from Djibouti, Gunny Baum volunteered to go to Iraq as the HUMINT Exploitation Team Chief in support of 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment.

On May 3, 2004 during combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, Gunny Baum was killed when a rocket landed in the turret that he was manning. Indicative of this Marine's leadership, at the time of his death Gunny Baum was seeing to welfare of his Marines in order to ensure their safety while disregarding his own. Gunny Baum is survived by his wife Cynthia, two sons, Ronald Jr. and Derek and daughter Taylor.

Gunnery Sergeant Baum's personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award and "V" device for valor, the Purple Heart awarded posthumously and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.



Honoree ID: 4397   Created by: MHOH

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