Note that Daniel's draft card shows the name "Donald" Albert Baker from Hankinson, Richland Co., ND. He registered at Wahpeton, Richland Co., ND on June 27, 1942. His primary contact was O. H. Baker, RR, Hankinson.
Also, his name appears as "Donald" on the census of 1930 and 1940. This may have been a nickname or simply the name he preferred to use. There is little to no doubt that Donald and Daniel are the same person.
Daniel was born to Orie Henry Baker (1892-1965) and Lena Muehler (1899-1977), both born in ND. Orie was 24 years old and Lena was 17 when they married on Sept 23, 1916 in Hankinson. Grist/Gust Muehler, gave consent for his daughter to marry.
Daniel's siblings were Raymond August (1919), Pearl Bertha (1921), Herbert Robert (1925), Henry R. (1930) and Grace (1933).
According to the records of the US Navy, Daniel enlisted at Minneapolis, MN. Hankinson, ND is located in the south-lower-central area of the state and is very rural. Minneapolis is the closest large city, located about 200 miles away. It is not unreasonable to assume that Daniel would have traveled there to enlist in the Navy. His enlistment date is not shown in the records.
Daniel was received at Great Lakes Training Center, IL on Mar 17, 1945 from NRS, Minneapolis, MN. He was a AS (Apprentice Seaman).
On May 16, 1945 he was advanced to S2c. Ten days later, May 26th, he was transferred to the US Navy Receiving Station, San Francisco, CA.
Most likely Daniel rode the train to CA. This was the primary mode of transportation for servicemen within the US. It would be a long trip with frequent stops and transfers. It is not unlikely that he had never traveled far from his home in rural ND so everything was new to him.
His location/service from the month of June is not known, but it was not uncommon for men to be assigned duties at the receiving station while awaiting assignment.
Daniel was granted furlough as evidence by his marriage on July 2, 1945 in Wheaton, Traverse Co., MN. The marriage certificate, below, shows Daniel A. Baker of Richland Co., North Dakota, married Margaret Jane Olson of Day Co., South Dakota.
Daniel walked the gangway and was granted permission to come aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 on July 14, 1945, 12 days after his marriage.
Daniel had probably never seen a heavy cruiser, or any other ship, before his arrival in CA. Indy was an impressive ship, wearing her new measure 22 camouflage pattern on her outward surfaces. While not as large as a battleship, she was huge with a length of 610 ft. (202 yards) and a beam of 66 ft. A destroyer was 240 ft., 80 yards shorter than Indy. Her height towered 133 ft. from her waterline to the top of radar antennae.
Indy had been at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA since May 2, 1945 for repairs from a kamikaze attack on March 30th. She was in dry dock from May 5th until June 22nd. Back in the water, more repairs continued, as well as refitting. During this time many enlisted men were transferred to other ships, so new crewmembers would be needed when Indy returned to sea duty. But, that would not be until at least September, so there was plenty of time, or so everyone thought.
On July 12th, Captain McVay received orders to immediately prepare his crew for departure on a secret mission and he should depart no later than July 16th. His few officers still on board were as astounded as he was when he informed them of the orders. But, they were mostly "old salts" who never questioned an order.
The crew was scattered across the US on furlough, in training schools, or in the onshore barracks at Mare Island. Telegrams ordered them to return to the ship at once. However, there was still a need for new crewmembers to fill the ship's current complement of 1,195 men. Whether this would have been the Navy's first choice of service for Daniel will never be known. He was available and Indy needed 250 new crewmembers, quickly.
One day after Daniel reported on board, Indianapolis departed Mare Island on Sunday morning, July 15th, for a short trip across the bay to Hunter's Point Navy Yard at San Francisco. Later that afternoon, top-secret cargo was loaded on board for transport to Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. None of the officers or crew knew the contents of their cargo when they departed on July 16, 1945, nor did Daniel know that his first trip to sea would be his last.
After the delivery, Indianapolis departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Habor, Guam, she sailed for Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, on July 30, 1945, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Whether Daniel made it off the ship and into the water is not known. Two months earlier, Daniel had celebrated his 22nd birthday.
Daniel's name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously.
A government issued headstone was placed in Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, Meade Co., SD, plot MG-104.
Daniel's wife was living with her parents in Webster, Day Co., SD at the time of his death and it is assumed this was the reason for the headstone being erected in Black Hills.
The Headstone and Internment Records for US Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949, shows Daniel's home state as North Dakota.
Daniel's parents are buried in Fairview Memorial Gardens, Wahpeton, Richland Co., ND.
Daniel's oldest brother, Raymond August, was drafted into the USAF 16 July 1942 at age 22. He died in 2009, age 89.
Daniel, you are not forgotten.
Source Credits1930 US Census, ND, Richland Co., Elma Twsp, Dist 39-18. Enumerated April 15. HH #60; citing family of Orace Baker.
1940 US Census, ND, Richland Co., Elma Twsp, Dist 39-15. Enumerated April 23. HH #56; citing family of Orie Baker.
"North Dakota, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W3PN-7PN2 : Wed Apr 16 17:17:21 UTC 2025), Entry for Donald Albert Baker and O H Baker, 27 Jun 1942.
State of ND, County of Richland, Record of Marriages, Series 41668, Vol. 9, 8 Nov 1915 to 26 Mar 1920, p. 110; citing marriage of Orie H. Baker and Lena Muehler.
ND, Cemetery Records, Fairview Cemetery, Fairview Junction, Richland, North Dakota; citing graves of Orie H. and Lena Baker.
Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS). Minnesota, USA: Minnesota Association of County Officers (MACO). https://moms.mn.gov/.
Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. MT-WY; SD, p. 1; shows Daniel Albert Baker, S2c, USNR; wife Mrs. Margaret Jane Baker, Box 147, Webster, SD.
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/275495419/daniel_albert-baker: accessed August 12, 2025), memorial page for S2 Daniel Albert Baker (7 May 1923-30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 275495419, citing Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, Meade County, South Dakota.
USN WWII Muster Rolls, 1938-1949; Ancestry database.
USN Ships, Stations and Other Naval Activities, 1939-1949; Ancestry database.
USN USS Indianapolis CA-35 Final Sailing List, 17 Aug 1945; Ancestry database.
ABBOTT, George Stanley 
FRONTINO, Vincent Fred 
AMICK, Homer Irwin