John Carlos Baker, a WWII hero, was born to Alton H and Eunice Ladd Baker. He was born on Furnace Hollow Road at the home of his grandparents, J.L. and Ella Fielder Baker. When John Carlos entered this world, he already had a brother, Garnet Holmes, and a few years later two more siblings were born, a sister Norma and a brother Robert.
At the time of his birth his father was a Greyhound Bus Driver and Mother was a housewife. At the beginning of WWII the Bakers started a bus Business (Baker Bus Line) due to the ratioing of gas, oil and rubber. The bus line served the Dickson area, as well as Clarksville, Erin, Ashland City, and Centerville, hauling worker back and Forth to their places of employement. John Carlos lived on Highway 70 west of Dickson until the date of his death.
By this time America was at war with most of Europe and all Americans were doing their part to help defend our country. Each school was asked to collect scrap metal which could be recycled as part of the defense program. The statewide program was initiated by E.B. Stahlman, publisher of The Nashville Banner newspaper. Classes at the Oakmont Elementary School competed to see which class could gather the most scrap. John Carlos, being all boy, went about this chore with great enthusiasm. One of his pieces of scrap was a long zinc pipe which was given to him by a neighbor taken from his well. He brought the pipe home in the front yard balancing the pole in hand, saying "Look, Superman". The pipe fell against the unwrapped electric wire which crossed the front yard and electrouted him instantly. Although John Carlos, only ten years of age, was not old enough to enter the military, it was siad by some that he should be considered a war hero as he was serving his country on the home front.
His mother was given a "Gold Star" flag from The Department of Defense, Washington, D.C., which has hung in their living room window for several years.
A bookshelf was placed in his honor at the Dickson County Library, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. On Scheduled days the children in the Dickson County Schools contributed their coins to buy books to add to the John Carlos Baker Memorial Bookshelf. At some point in time the bookshelf has been lost, but the picture of John Carlos Baker hangs proudly in the Children's section of the Dickson County Public Library.
By March 9, 1943, a monument was erected at his grave site at Union Cemetery. On this day all of Dickson County school Children, along with the Dickson High School band, Tennessee State Guard and Dickson American Legion, marched down College Street and over to Union Cemetery for the unveiling of the huge monument which was donated by sympathetic citizens throughout Tennessee and surrounding states. A message was read at the dedication ceremony from then Governor Prentice Cooper which said "Like Sam Davis, John Carols Baker gave his life in carrying out a voluntary assignment. He was 10; Sam Davis was 20. Each set a new standard of devotion and courage. We will always honor his memory." The inscription on his monument reads, "a little solider who died in service of his country while collecting scrap iron for defense work."
At the time of his birth his father was a Greyhound Bus Driver and Mother was a housewife. At the beginning of WWII the Bakers started a bus Business (Baker Bus Line) due to the ratioing of gas, oil and rubber. The bus line served the Dickson area, as well as Clarksville, Erin, Ashland City, and Centerville, hauling worker back and Forth to their places of employement. John Carlos lived on Highway 70 west of Dickson until the date of his death.
By this time America was at war with most of Europe and all Americans were doing their part to help defend our country. Each school was asked to collect scrap metal which could be recycled as part of the defense program. The statewide program was initiated by E.B. Stahlman, publisher of The Nashville Banner newspaper. Classes at the Oakmont Elementary School competed to see which class could gather the most scrap. John Carlos, being all boy, went about this chore with great enthusiasm. One of his pieces of scrap was a long zinc pipe which was given to him by a neighbor taken from his well. He brought the pipe home in the front yard balancing the pole in hand, saying "Look, Superman". The pipe fell against the unwrapped electric wire which crossed the front yard and electrouted him instantly. Although John Carlos, only ten years of age, was not old enough to enter the military, it was siad by some that he should be considered a war hero as he was serving his country on the home front.
His mother was given a "Gold Star" flag from The Department of Defense, Washington, D.C., which has hung in their living room window for several years.
A bookshelf was placed in his honor at the Dickson County Library, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. On Scheduled days the children in the Dickson County Schools contributed their coins to buy books to add to the John Carlos Baker Memorial Bookshelf. At some point in time the bookshelf has been lost, but the picture of John Carlos Baker hangs proudly in the Children's section of the Dickson County Public Library.
By March 9, 1943, a monument was erected at his grave site at Union Cemetery. On this day all of Dickson County school Children, along with the Dickson High School band, Tennessee State Guard and Dickson American Legion, marched down College Street and over to Union Cemetery for the unveiling of the huge monument which was donated by sympathetic citizens throughout Tennessee and surrounding states. A message was read at the dedication ceremony from then Governor Prentice Cooper which said "Like Sam Davis, John Carols Baker gave his life in carrying out a voluntary assignment. He was 10; Sam Davis was 20. Each set a new standard of devotion and courage. We will always honor his memory." The inscription on his monument reads, "a little solider who died in service of his country while collecting scrap iron for defense work."
John Carlos Baker, a WWII hero, was born to Alton H and Eunice Ladd Baker. He was born on Furnace Hollow Road at the home of his grandparents, J.L. and Ella Fielder Baker. When John Carlos entered this world, he already had a brother, Garnet Holmes, and a few years later two more siblings were born, a sister Norma and a brother Robert.
At the time of his birth his father was a Greyhound Bus Driver and Mother was a housewife. At the beginning of WWII the Bakers started a bus Business (Baker Bus Line) due to the ratioing of gas, oil and rubber. The bus line served the Dickson area, as well as Clarksville, Erin, Ashland City, and Centerville, hauling worker back and Forth to their places of employement. John Carlos lived on Highway 70 west of Dickson until the date of his death.
By this time America was at war with most of Europe and all Americans were doing their part to help defend our country. Each school was asked to collect scrap metal which could be recycled as part of the defense program. The statewide program was initiated by E.B. Stahlman, publisher of The Nashville Banner newspaper. Classes at the Oakmont Elementary School competed to see which class could gather the most scrap. John Carlos, being all boy, went about this chore with great enthusiasm. One of his pieces of scrap was a long zinc pipe which was given to him by a neighbor taken from his well. He brought the pipe home in the front yard balancing the pole in hand, saying "Look, Superman". The pipe fell against the unwrapped electric wire which crossed the front yard and electrouted him instantly. Although John Carlos, only ten years of age, was not old enough to enter the military, it was siad by some that he should be considered a war hero as he was serving his country on the home front.
His mother was given a "Gold Star" flag from The Department of Defense, Washington, D.C., which has hung in their living room window for several years.
A bookshelf was placed in his honor at the Dickson County Library, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. On Scheduled days the children in the Dickson County Schools contributed their coins to buy books to add to the John Carlos Baker Memorial Bookshelf. At some point in time the bookshelf has been lost, but the picture of John Carlos Baker hangs proudly in the Children's section of the Dickson County Public Library.
By March 9, 1943, a monument was erected at his grave site at Union Cemetery. On this day all of Dickson County school Children, along with the Dickson High School band, Tennessee State Guard and Dickson American Legion, marched down College Street and over to Union Cemetery for the unveiling of the huge monument which was donated by sympathetic citizens throughout Tennessee and surrounding states. A message was read at the dedication ceremony from then Governor Prentice Cooper which said "Like Sam Davis, John Carols Baker gave his life in carrying out a voluntary assignment. He was 10; Sam Davis was 20. Each set a new standard of devotion and courage. We will always honor his memory." The inscription on his monument reads, "a little solider who died in service of his country while collecting scrap iron for defense work."
At the time of his birth his father was a Greyhound Bus Driver and Mother was a housewife. At the beginning of WWII the Bakers started a bus Business (Baker Bus Line) due to the ratioing of gas, oil and rubber. The bus line served the Dickson area, as well as Clarksville, Erin, Ashland City, and Centerville, hauling worker back and Forth to their places of employement. John Carlos lived on Highway 70 west of Dickson until the date of his death.
By this time America was at war with most of Europe and all Americans were doing their part to help defend our country. Each school was asked to collect scrap metal which could be recycled as part of the defense program. The statewide program was initiated by E.B. Stahlman, publisher of The Nashville Banner newspaper. Classes at the Oakmont Elementary School competed to see which class could gather the most scrap. John Carlos, being all boy, went about this chore with great enthusiasm. One of his pieces of scrap was a long zinc pipe which was given to him by a neighbor taken from his well. He brought the pipe home in the front yard balancing the pole in hand, saying "Look, Superman". The pipe fell against the unwrapped electric wire which crossed the front yard and electrouted him instantly. Although John Carlos, only ten years of age, was not old enough to enter the military, it was siad by some that he should be considered a war hero as he was serving his country on the home front.
His mother was given a "Gold Star" flag from The Department of Defense, Washington, D.C., which has hung in their living room window for several years.
A bookshelf was placed in his honor at the Dickson County Library, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. On Scheduled days the children in the Dickson County Schools contributed their coins to buy books to add to the John Carlos Baker Memorial Bookshelf. At some point in time the bookshelf has been lost, but the picture of John Carlos Baker hangs proudly in the Children's section of the Dickson County Public Library.
By March 9, 1943, a monument was erected at his grave site at Union Cemetery. On this day all of Dickson County school Children, along with the Dickson High School band, Tennessee State Guard and Dickson American Legion, marched down College Street and over to Union Cemetery for the unveiling of the huge monument which was donated by sympathetic citizens throughout Tennessee and surrounding states. A message was read at the dedication ceremony from then Governor Prentice Cooper which said "Like Sam Davis, John Carols Baker gave his life in carrying out a voluntary assignment. He was 10; Sam Davis was 20. Each set a new standard of devotion and courage. We will always honor his memory." The inscription on his monument reads, "a little solider who died in service of his country while collecting scrap iron for defense work."
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