Cpl. Daniel Baker with cousin Hazel July 2018
WASHINGTON — The five missing Marines who were aboard the KC-130J tanker plane that collided midair with an F/A-18 fighter off the coast of Japan last week ranged from young corporals early in their service to a veteran pilot, who was the executive officer of their Japan-based squadron. On Tuesday, they were declared dead, ending days of searching for them.
One of the fallen was 21 year old Cpl. Daniel Baker of Tremont, Illinois.
Stars & Stripes features a piece about each one of the five Marines, including this by Dianna Cahn –
A sense of adventure called Cpl. Daniel Baker into the Marines in 2016.
The 21-year-old was a stellar student, a member of his high school robotics team and a prime candidate for pursuing a degree in engineering. It’s what his parents saw as “the logical choice.”
But the quiet Marine crewmaster, whom friends said stood out with his blond hair and country drawl, had other plans.
“He wanted to see the world and felt called to serve his country in the Marines,” his parents said in a statement shared with Stars and Stripes on Tuesday. “He wanted to do his part and join the ranks of some of the toughest, most committed men and women in the world and we are so proud of him for it, even though we feared a week like this one might come.”
For the past four days, the Baker family in Tremont, Illinois, waited with desperate hope that Daniel and four other missing crewmembers would be found alive after their KC-130J Hercules refueling aircraft collided with an F/A-18 fighter jet Thursday off the coast of Japan.
On Tuesday, the Marines announced they were calling off the search, saying all five crewmembers were dead. The Bakers were notified of Daniel’s death, said longtime family friend Matt Miller, who was asked by the family to speak on their behalf.
News spread quickly among the 2,200 residents of the town in central Illinois. Tremont High School, where Baker graduated in 2015 and his younger sister is now a student, held a moment of silence Saturday night at their home basketball game.
“It’s been a difficult couple of days here,” said Jeff Hinman, superintendent of Tremont School District No. 702. “This is an extremely tight-knit community and our residents support these kids in an unbelievable fashion. So they watched him grow up.”
For those who knew Baker, the world lost a little of its kindness Thursday. The Baker family released a statement recounting stories from his family and friends. Nearly all described his enormous compassion –— a person who was always willing to offer friendship, host church youth group parties or listen if someone needed to talk.
He had the ability to reach out to the people around him and bring them in as friends regardless of their background, one friend said. In his quiet way, he touched the lives of many.
“He was a great young man,” Miller said. “He was a joy to be around. He was quiet, but willing to do whatever you asked of him.”
When Baker stopped by the school a few months ago while on home leave, Hinman said he was struck by how eloquently the young Marine spoke about his work.
“He always had a great deal of confidence but there was a poise about him that was different,” Hinman said. “I remember just how well he articulated his service and how much he truly loved what he was doing.”
Tremont High School had another home game scheduled Tuesday night. Hinman said the community would once again stand in silence, this time in full-on grief.
More at Stars & Stripes.
