By: Nicole Higginbotham
Charles Baker, like most 18-year-olds, did not know what he wanted to do with his life. He did, however, know that he did not want to get drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Therefore, in an attempt to prevent that from happening, Baker joined the Air Force. "It was a very good experience for a kid that was 18-years-old," said Baker. "You went in there, and you knew you had to take care of yourself. If you had any money, then, you had to take care of it." He began his term in 1950 and was temporarily stationed on Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas for basic military training (BMT). Meeting the requirements to graduate from BMT, Baker was then stationed in Ft. Sam Houston, where he was trained to be a combat medic. Nevertheless, Baker did not feel like this job suited him, and soon after finishing his combat medic training, he became a medical supply specialist. "I was trained to be a combat medic, and I didn't want to work that, so they took me to supply," Baker said. "That was better." Baker was first stationed in Hawaii, where he and his fellow airman enjoyed the local attractions when they were not in the barracks. "They had a lot to do over there," said Baker. "There was always something going on, and most of the things you went to in uniform were free." Baker said that he liked to go swimming and to stock car races, and he and his comrades went out most nights and weekends. "When I came back, I went to Dover, Del., for seven months until I got out," Baker said. "That's where I was discharged." Baker said that the service trained him well for life outside the military, and he even had the opportunity to take management courses while he was in. "I had more schooling after I got in the service than I did before I went there," Baker said. After Baker was discharged, he moved to Dayton, Ohio, and in 1955, he married his girlfriend, Melpo. Baker obtained a job, working for National Cash Register as a packer and a clerk. They lived there for 19 years before moving back to Baker's hometown, Weeping Water, Neb. Though the Bakers did not have any children of their own, they spent a lot of time enjoying school-sponsored events with the students in the Papillion school district. "I drove the school bus for Papillion for 10 years," said Baker. "It was interesting, and most of the kids were good." In his spare time, Baker enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling with his wife. "We traveled a lot," said Baker. "I always had a good job, so we always had enough money to travel around and see what we wanted to do." As time progressed, the Bakers decided that they wanted to be closer to the health facilities that they utilized, so they sold their house in Weeping Water and moved to the Bellevue Veterans Home, 12505 South 40th Street, Bellevue, Neb. Baker said that the resident assistants at the Bellevue Veterans Home are very nice people. "Everybody's friendly," said Baker. "Anything you need, well they'll take care of it." The Bellevue Veterans Home provides Baker with transportation to see his doctors and an assortment of activities to keep him busy. Baker is happy with his retirement, and now, he enjoys spending time with his wife, playing bingo and reading. "If a guy's got to be in a place like this, this is the place to be," said Baker. "There's something going on all of the time." For more information on Baker or the provisions of the Bellevue Veterans Home, call (402) 595-2180.
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