BG (Ret) John H. Gibson presents Silver Star to Allen J. Baker, 44th HG;
Dixon C. McEver, Jr. (co-pilot); Joseph F. Herrmann, Jr. (pilot); General Gibson; Allen J. Baker (radioman); Lyle B. Latimer (tail gunner); H.P. 'Whitey' Ahlstedt (navigator); Howard H. Robb (substitute pilot plus Baker's pilot ferrying gas after combat); and Albert T. Wheaton, engineer.

Allen J. Baker's middle name is not 'Job' but he has demonstrated a quality of patience not unlike that of the Biblical man. Former T/Sgt. Baker performed acts of valor 20 June 1944 while on a bombing mission over Politz, Germany but he did not receive the medal his actions warranted until 19 May 89 at Winfield's '08 Restaurant in Ft. Worth, TX.

During bomb drop on the target run at Politz, a bomb shackle malfunctioned retaining a lower bomb, thus those above bounced erratically with one hooking a tail fin on the control cables leading to the pilot's compartment. To free the bomb endangering pilot control of the falling aircraft, radioman Baker removed all protective gear (flak vest, parachute, and oxygen mask), put a foot on the mid-ship catwalk with the other on the outside plane wall and, while straddling the open bomb bay, picked up the snagged 100 lb. bomb and threw it out the bomb bay. At the post-mission interrogation, the grateful crew recommended Baker for the Silver Star. The 44th Bomb Group administration agreed and paperwork was filed. However, the blizzard of communications (only 14 days after D-Day) "snowed under" the request for Baker's award. Soon, the crew's tour of raids ended and the men scattered for reassignment by September 1944 and crew 2387 (crew's training # at Casper, WY in December 1943) did not reassemble again until October 1987 when we discovered that Baker had never received the Silver Star.

Unknown to Baker, the crew members decided to revive the request. With aid from U.S. Congressional Representatives James Ross Lightfoot of Iowa and Bud Shuster of Pennsylvania by Lyle B. Latimer (44th); a review of the 1944 request was launched on the ocean of red tape but eventually the medal came to the Lightfoot staff to be informally sent to Baker. On 21 January 1989, via a surprise gathering of his family (masked as a church supper by Mrs. Baker and clan) the medal was presented in Loysburg, PA much to the surprised delight of a hero.

During the Golden Anniversary festivities recognizing the B-24 bomber held in Ft. Worth, TX 17-21 May 1989, crew 2387 once again had a reunion shared with seven crewmen and several guests. Retired Brigadier General John H. Gibson formally presented the Silver Star to the patient Allen J. Baker on 19 May 1989. Guests present were Ruth Gibson, Evelyn Cohen, and spouses of Baker, McEver, Robb and Wheaton. It was this tail gunner's pleasure to attend both Baker presentations. Each time it was impressive to note the effect the event had upon the younger set in attendance. At the Pennsylvania event, most of the younger group were seeing Grandad in a whole new role and they were impressed by the fact that some may have not realized Allen J. Baker had been once in the warrior mode; he enlisted a month and a day after Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941. At the formal presentation in Ft. Worth, it was our head waiter and his aides at Winfield's '08 Restaurant who kept their eye on the procedure and were duly impressed enough to come up (long after the luncheon tab had been paid) with a keen enough desire to ask for an up-close inspection of the award.