Major, Medical Company (Dental), 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Entered the service from Baltimore, Maryland. Killed in Action; his remains were not recovered. Awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Medical Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
That's the official part of the story.
James Baido was 'adopted' by my husband's great aunt Eveline Diggs when she was a missionary to the Philippines. His mother died very shortly after he was born, and his family told Aunt Evie that usually the mother's spirit called the baby to her. Since that didn't happen, it must be because Aunt Evie's spirit was stronger. Her comment to me was that she thought the milk she fed the baby had something to do with it. James' father was Joseph Baido
Aunt Evie was a missionary to the headhunters in the mountains above Baguio between World War I and World War II. In July of 1936, when James was 17, he and Aunt Evie arrived in Seattle on the Empress of Asia. She was listed as his guardian and she paid for his passage. He was admitted to the United States as a student. He registered for the draft in 1941 as a single male without dependents. On 27 July 1943, he enlisted in the Army as a Private with four years of college. He was not yet a citizen, but he became naturalized 29 November 1943 in Baltimore.
He wanted to go to medical school but was not admitted (possibly because of his race) so he went to the University of Maryland Dental School, and graduated in the class of 1946. He was apparently an excellent dentist. According to family legend, he worked on General Bradley's teeth. Aunt Evie was very proud of him.
Before he went to Korea, he helped my husband's father in building a house on the shore, including digging a septic tank. On his way to his posting to Korea, he visited his family in the Philippines, and left his car (a 1946 Dodge) with them.
He wrote home from Korea that he was not doing dentistry - that he was doing surgery, and apparently was with a MASH unit. He was reported missing at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Aunt Evie always hoped that since his remains were never found that he was alive somewhere. He among the Military Personnel listed as "Still Missing at Chosin Reservoir".
He is also listed at the National Korean War Veterans Memorial
That's the official part of the story.
James Baido was 'adopted' by my husband's great aunt Eveline Diggs when she was a missionary to the Philippines. His mother died very shortly after he was born, and his family told Aunt Evie that usually the mother's spirit called the baby to her. Since that didn't happen, it must be because Aunt Evie's spirit was stronger. Her comment to me was that she thought the milk she fed the baby had something to do with it. James' father was Joseph Baido
Aunt Evie was a missionary to the headhunters in the mountains above Baguio between World War I and World War II. In July of 1936, when James was 17, he and Aunt Evie arrived in Seattle on the Empress of Asia. She was listed as his guardian and she paid for his passage. He was admitted to the United States as a student. He registered for the draft in 1941 as a single male without dependents. On 27 July 1943, he enlisted in the Army as a Private with four years of college. He was not yet a citizen, but he became naturalized 29 November 1943 in Baltimore.
He wanted to go to medical school but was not admitted (possibly because of his race) so he went to the University of Maryland Dental School, and graduated in the class of 1946. He was apparently an excellent dentist. According to family legend, he worked on General Bradley's teeth. Aunt Evie was very proud of him.
Before he went to Korea, he helped my husband's father in building a house on the shore, including digging a septic tank. On his way to his posting to Korea, he visited his family in the Philippines, and left his car (a 1946 Dodge) with them.
He wrote home from Korea that he was not doing dentistry - that he was doing surgery, and apparently was with a MASH unit. He was reported missing at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Aunt Evie always hoped that since his remains were never found that he was alive somewhere. He among the Military Personnel listed as "Still Missing at Chosin Reservoir".
He is also listed at the National Korean War Veterans Memorial
Major, Medical Company (Dental), 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Entered the service from Baltimore, Maryland. Killed in Action; his remains were not recovered. Awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Medical Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
That's the official part of the story.
James Baido was 'adopted' by my husband's great aunt Eveline Diggs when she was a missionary to the Philippines. His mother died very shortly after he was born, and his family told Aunt Evie that usually the mother's spirit called the baby to her. Since that didn't happen, it must be because Aunt Evie's spirit was stronger. Her comment to me was that she thought the milk she fed the baby had something to do with it. James' father was Joseph Baido
Aunt Evie was a missionary to the headhunters in the mountains above Baguio between World War I and World War II. In July of 1936, when James was 17, he and Aunt Evie arrived in Seattle on the Empress of Asia. She was listed as his guardian and she paid for his passage. He was admitted to the United States as a student. He registered for the draft in 1941 as a single male without dependents. On 27 July 1943, he enlisted in the Army as a Private with four years of college. He was not yet a citizen, but he became naturalized 29 November 1943 in Baltimore.
He wanted to go to medical school but was not admitted (possibly because of his race) so he went to the University of Maryland Dental School, and graduated in the class of 1946. He was apparently an excellent dentist. According to family legend, he worked on General Bradley's teeth. Aunt Evie was very proud of him.
Before he went to Korea, he helped my husband's father in building a house on the shore, including digging a septic tank. On his way to his posting to Korea, he visited his family in the Philippines, and left his car (a 1946 Dodge) with them.
He wrote home from Korea that he was not doing dentistry - that he was doing surgery, and apparently was with a MASH unit. He was reported missing at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Aunt Evie always hoped that since his remains were never found that he was alive somewhere. He among the Military Personnel listed as "Still Missing at Chosin Reservoir".
He is also listed at the National Korean War Veterans Memorial
That's the official part of the story.
James Baido was 'adopted' by my husband's great aunt Eveline Diggs when she was a missionary to the Philippines. His mother died very shortly after he was born, and his family told Aunt Evie that usually the mother's spirit called the baby to her. Since that didn't happen, it must be because Aunt Evie's spirit was stronger. Her comment to me was that she thought the milk she fed the baby had something to do with it. James' father was Joseph Baido
Aunt Evie was a missionary to the headhunters in the mountains above Baguio between World War I and World War II. In July of 1936, when James was 17, he and Aunt Evie arrived in Seattle on the Empress of Asia. She was listed as his guardian and she paid for his passage. He was admitted to the United States as a student. He registered for the draft in 1941 as a single male without dependents. On 27 July 1943, he enlisted in the Army as a Private with four years of college. He was not yet a citizen, but he became naturalized 29 November 1943 in Baltimore.
He wanted to go to medical school but was not admitted (possibly because of his race) so he went to the University of Maryland Dental School, and graduated in the class of 1946. He was apparently an excellent dentist. According to family legend, he worked on General Bradley's teeth. Aunt Evie was very proud of him.
Before he went to Korea, he helped my husband's father in building a house on the shore, including digging a septic tank. On his way to his posting to Korea, he visited his family in the Philippines, and left his car (a 1946 Dodge) with them.
He wrote home from Korea that he was not doing dentistry - that he was doing surgery, and apparently was with a MASH unit. He was reported missing at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Aunt Evie always hoped that since his remains were never found that he was alive somewhere. He among the Military Personnel listed as "Still Missing at Chosin Reservoir".
He is also listed at the National Korean War Veterans Memorial
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