George W. Baker Jr.
Mr. Baker’s Military career began in Chicago, Illinois, and spanned more than twenty years, with fifteen years as an Army Aviator. He served two separate tours in the Republic of South Vietnam as a combat pilot/aviation safety officer. While serving as an aviator, Mr. Baker earned several awards. Some of the most notable were the Master Aviators Badge, The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Presidential Service Badge, Air Medal with 20 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and five Vietnam Service Medals. His greatest award came in 1973, when he was selected to join an elite group of pilots whose mission was to provide helicopter transportation (then known as Army One) for the President of the United States, The Executive Flight Detachment. While assigned to the White House, Mr. Baker and Mr. Carl Burhanan were the first African-American Pilot and Co-Pilot to fly a sitting President of the United States. In 1976, Mr. Baker returned to Ft. Rucker, AL, the home of Army Aviation, and accepted the duty of Project Officer for acceptance of the UH-60 (Blackhawk) simulator. In 1978, he graduated magna cum laude from Troy State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. Mr. Baker retired from the Military on June 14, 1980 as a Chief Warrant Officer (CW4) after serving twenty-four years in the United States Army. Thereafter, he returned to his passion – flight instruction, teaching young soldiers the skills required to fly helicopters. In 1987, he became an aircraft accident investigator and celebrated his final retirement from the workforce in 1998 while continuing to pass on his knowledge and skills by devoting his evenings and weekends to counseling young pilots in training. Retired CW4 George Baker Jr. passed January 8, 2000 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.