Posted on 09/14/2005 4:36:19 PM PDT by SandRat
U.S. Army, Staff Sgt. Michael L. Baker and Pfc. Michael J. Baker
Belle Chasse, Louisiana, Sept. 14, 2005 — Like father, like son; it's all in the family for a pair of infantrymen with the Oregon National Guard.
As Staff Sgt. Michael L. Baker from the Oregon National Guard sat on a New York City transit bus at the Belle Chasse Naval Air Station near New Orleans, his thoughts were on his family.
And his mind didn't have to wander far.
A few buses over sat his young stepson who also mobilized with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. While waiting for the buses to take the men to the French Quarter where they would be tasked to provide security and support for the area, the younger Baker checked in on his stepfather.
Although stepfather is the word given by the dictionary to describe the pair's relationship, the younger Baker thinks of the senior as simply “Dad.”
Staff Sgt. Michael L. Baker, 40, and his son, Pfc. Michael J. Baker, 22, are both infantrymen in the same Oregon National Guard unit and hail from Grants Pass, Ore.
When volunteers were sought for the humanitarian effort neither hesitated.
“I came because as a human being it was the thing you have to do,” said the elder Baker, who sells cars for a Chevrolet dealership back home.
A 15-year veteran of the military, Baker became 40 percent disabled after he shattered his right shoulder while on a mission in Egypt in August 2002. Still, his disability wasn't about to keep him sidelined from helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
“We just had a big disaster,” Baker said of the wildfires that swept through portions of Oregon a year ago.
“I couldn't say no,” he said. “I've got fellow Americans that are hurting.”
Those were the same sentiments of his stepson who joined the Oregon National Guard nearly two years ago.
A laborer back home, Michael credits his stepfather with motivating him to join the military.
“He was a huge reason why I joined. He brought me into the Guard,” he said. “He raised me for more than half of my life. He's been a big influence.”
Out of respect for his stepfather, Michael legally changed his surname in January 2004.
Listening as the pair spoke, Grantley “Wally” Waldron, the operator of the NYC transit bus was clearly touched by the father and son bond.
“That shows a lot of love and respect,” said Waldron of the son's decision to change his last name to that of the man who raised him.
“He brought me out of childhood into adulthood,” said the well-mannered young man.
Michael said his 17-year-old girlfriend, Kristina, is very supportive of his mission in New Orleans, but at the same time is scared for him.
He said when they first started dating he explained to her that military duty can often lead to separation from loved ones. It's a part of the lifestyle.
“I told her that when I have to go, I have to go,” he said.
As for his mobilization to New Orleans: “I came here to take care of people.”
“They really need us,” he said.
Father and Son working together to help others.
Funny how you never read good stories like this in the MSM press...and they wonder why their readership is dropping like a stone!
BTTT
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