Thomas J. Baldwin was born on June 8, 1920 in the town of Alpena, Jerauld County, South Dakota to Joseph Franklin Baldwin and Bessie Belle Baldwin, nee Cakebread. Thomas’ siblings were Lester, Ada, Franklin, Eva, Esther Baldwin, and Courtney Baldwin. Another brother, Joseph Baldwin, died at birth. In 1930, the family lived in Goshen County, Wyoming, where Joseph was a farmer. Tom was living with his parents in Torrington, Goshen County in 1940 and working as a truck driver. Thomas Baldwin married Margaret White probably in Torrington, Wyoming, although no marriage record has been found by this researcher. The couple had two children: Thomas J. Baldwin, Jr. and Jacqueline Baldwin.

Thomas J. Baldwin registered for the draft on February 16, 1942. He was 21 years old, 5’8” tall, and weighed 165 pounds. He had brown hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion. He lived in Cle Elum, Kittitas County, Washington and worked as a miner for the Northwest Improvement Company in Roslyn, Washington. He was inducted into the United States Army on July 8, 1944 in Seattle. He was married, had a grammar school education, and was working as a welder in King County, Washington.

Private Thomas J. Baldwin, Sr. served in Company A, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. When Baldwin joined the regiment, the 21st had already fought in the Battle of Hollandia and the Invasion of Leyte in the Philippines. In early 1945, the 21st Infantry participated in the capture of Mindoro Island which was needed as a base to launch strikes in support of the Luzon campaign.

The liberation of Mindanao, the second largest and most southern of the Philippine islands, began for the 21st Infantry with amphibious assaults on the island’s south-central coast on April 17, 1945. The mission for the 21st was to proceed up the Mindanao River and attack the island’s largest city, Davao, from the rear. The city was captured on May 3, 1945.

Private Thomas J. Baldwin was killed in action on May 1, 1945. His remains were returned to the States in 1949 and reinterred in the Valley View Cemetery, Torrington, Goshen County, Wyoming (Plot N3, Sw4, L4, B127, S6). He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project

(see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to

write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We

Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be

accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at clock902@aol.com.

SBTSProject/Washington/King County

Sources:

WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954, https://www.fold3.com/record/702038151/baldwin-thomas-j-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualty List, https://www.fold3.com/image/310763494?rec=299419176

Casper Star-Tribune, 11 Jun 1945, Mon · Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/348909223?utm_source=fold3.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Fold3&_gl=1*1yzy2g4*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MDEzMDU2My4zLjEuMTY4MDEzMjQxMC4yMC4wLjA.

Casper Star-Tribune, 16 Jun 1949, Thu · Page 19, https://www.newspapers.com/image/348572525?utm_source=fold3.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Fold3&_gl=1*178p5q6*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MDEzMDU2My4zLjEuMTY4MDEzMjQxMC4yMC4wLjA.

Findagrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10882618/thomas-j-baldwin

WWII Army Enlistment Records, https://www.fold3.com/record/91046135/thomas-j-baldwin-sr-wwii-army-enlistment-records

World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/36830296:2238?_gl=1*1u90jwf*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MDEzMDU2My4zLjEuMTY4MDEzMjQ5My4zMy4wLjA.

1930 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/113105458:6224?tid=&pid=&queryId=7520c3203fba0dc406c9555d4b90294b&_phsrc=xOR61043&_phstart=successSource&_gl=1*1u90jwf*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MDEzMDU2My4zLjEuMTY4MDEzMjQ5My4zMy4wLjA.

1940 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/143488111:2442?_gl=1*12kefs5*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MDEzMDU2My4zLjEuMTY4MDEzMjQ5My4zMy4wLjA.

City Directories, 1822-1995, Ellensburg, Washington, City Directory, 1941, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/908758783:2469?_gl=1*8riptt*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MDEzMDU2My4zLjEuMTY4MDEzMjQ5My4zMy4wLjA.

Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/961061:2375?_gl=1*8riptt*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MDEzMDU2My4zLjEuMTY4MDEzMjQ5My4zMy4wLjA.

1950 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/64944676:62308

1940 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/143488134:2442

Thomas J Baldwin Sr