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 Author  Topic: VIP who was a PT Boater passes
  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Jul 1, 2014 - 6:19am
I just ran across this. I was previously unaware that Senator Howard Baker was a PT Boater! Did anyone else know about this?
Jerry

Baker, Howard H. Jr. - died Thursday, June 26th, 2014, at his home in Huntsville,Tennessee. He was 88 years old. His family was with him when he died.

Known in Washington, D.C., as the voice of civility, he searched for answers to the critical issues facing the country. His skill as a conciliator served him well over an 18-year career in the United States Senate, as Senate Majority and Minority Leader, as chief of staff to President Ronald Reagan and U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

Howard Baker was born in Huntsville, Tennessee, Scott County the son of Dora Ann Ladd and Howard Baker, Sr. At the age of 8 years old his mother died. His father remarried Irene Bailey of Sevierville, Tn. His father was a Congressman from Scott County, Tennessee from 1951 to 1964. When Howard Baker Sr. died in office, his wife Irene took his seat in Congress and later won election to Congress in her own right.

Baker attended the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., Tulane University and the University of the South. During World War II, he served on a PT boat in the South Pacific. Upon completion of his military service, Baker enrolled in the University of Tennessee law school, a choice he made, he said, because the line was shorter than the one for the engineering school.

In 1949 he was admitted to the bar in Tennessee and began his law practice with his father. The firm was called Baker and Baker, now known as Baker Donelson, one of the top 100 law firms in the country. The rotunda at the UT College of Law is named in his honor.

In 1951, Baker met the daughter of Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois. He and Joy Dirksen were married that same year. He had 2 children, Darek Dirksen Baker and Cynthia "Cissy" Baker.

As a young man he didn't have political ambitions, but in 1964 he ran for the United States Senate as a Republican. He lost the election, but two years later, ran again, defeating the sitting Governor Frank Clement. Baker became the first Republican popularly elected to the Senate from Tennessee. He served 18 years in the Senate,serving both as Senate minority and majority leader. Upon his retirement from the Senate, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the country.

In a Leadership Lecture to his former Senate colleagues in 1998 - a speech entitled "On Herding Cats" -- Baker said what really makes the Senate work is an understanding of human nature, an appreciation of the hearts as well as the minds, the frailties as well as the strengths, of one's colleagues and one's constituents.

In 1980, he ran for president, but lost to Ronald Reagan. Six years later, he received call from President Reagan, asking him to serve as White House Chief of Staff. His decision removed the potential of a second race for the White House, but he stated, "When the President calls, it is your duty to serve."


Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm | IP Logged

  TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Jul 1, 2014 - 7:31am
Jerry;
Yes Senator Baker was an Ensign and went through MTBSTC, later he was assigned to RON 44, then the war ended.
Take care,
TED


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ROSS FISHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of ROSS FISHER  Posted on: Jul 2, 2014 - 7:27am
Can you imagine the response of most PT vets when asked if they would like to be ambassador to Japan?

Ross Fisher

ross@dupagels.lib.il.us

Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Jul 23, 2008 - 10:03am | IP Logged

earl

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of earl  Posted on: Jul 6, 2014 - 8:19pm
hi jerry/thankks. i was notified of hios passing on facebook.i sent comndolences to his family. earl

earl richmond

Total Posts: 197 | Joined: Oct 18, 2006 - 12:13pm | IP Logged


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