Suburban father, son serving in Iraq

Former West Chicago resident Joe Baker's grandson, Liam Baker, is serving in Iraq, but he didn't expect his son to be sent there, too.

His son, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Baker III, had been retired from the military 12 years when the Army called him back into service at the age of 49.

"Couldn't believe it," Baker said.

Sgt. Baker had earned a teaching certificate after taking an early retirement from the Army and was serving as principal of the Intermediate School in Ft. Stockton, Texas, when the call came in September 2006. His wife, Elizabeth, said he asked for an extension to complete the school year, then left for training June 3. He wanted to go, she said.

"He lost like 45 pounds. He started running and working out to get ready. He studied Arabic," she said.

Sgt. Baker arrived in Iraq Oct. 21. He is stationed in the Anbar Province west of Baghdad with a civil affairs unit working on reconstruction projects. He expects to remain in Iraq until December 2008.

His son, Spc. Liam Baker, was sent to Iraq in March 2007 for a 15-month deployment that will end next summer. Part of the 30,000-troop surge, he is stationed in Diyala Province northeast of Baghdad with the 4th Stryker Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division.

Father and son hope to visit one another while in Iraq.

Elizabeth Baker said both her husband and son have laptop computers and keep in touch regularly with family in the States.

"They're doing what they want to do. I support them," she said. "I miss them terribly."

The couple has another son, Conor, who lives in Ft. Stockton.

Joe Baker, a Korean War veteran who now lives in Huntley, said he and his wife, Heidi, want to start a support group for Chicago-area families who have more than one relative serving in harm's way overseas.

They may be contacted at (847) 669-7525.