Robert Otto Baumann

Robert Otto Baumann, age 92, of Henderson, Nevada passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2024. He was born on April 19, 1931 in Fallon, Nevada to his parents Lewis and Allene Baumann. He was raised with his siblings on his father's 40 acre farm. Robert Baumann’s father, Lewis W., was a farmer from Oregon City, Oregon, and his mother, Allene Stewart hailed from Springplace, Georgia. They moved to Nevada to work a ranch/farm in Churchill County located three miles out of town from Fallon. Their oldest child, Chrystal was born there in 1928, and Robert in 1931. Two more daughters followed. It was taken for granted that Robert would follow his father’s profession, maybe take over the ranch. He participated throughout his youth in Future Farmers of America, and won 2d place in the Nevada State competition in farm safety hosted by the 4-H in 1948. He also enjoyed playing the tuba in the high school’s marching band. He served as his class’s vice-president and was elected as class president in his senior year. He graduated from Churchill County High School on 3 June 1949.

With the onset of the Korean War in June, 1950, Robert could have waited to be drafted, but instead elected to enlist in the US Marine Corps for three years of active duty with no reserve obligation. He quit his job as a tile setter at the Bucket & Sponge Company in Reno, and signed his DD4 contract on 24 Feb 1951. The recruiter placed him on the next train bound for San Diego.

When the train pulled up to the Recruit Depot, waiting drill instructors met the recruits screaming and barking orders. Pvt Baumann, #1190416, joined the pack jumping off the train and falling under the barrage of orders streaming from the Drill Instructors. They marched the new recruits over to the 4th Recruit Training Battalion for in-processing. Upon completion of recruit training eight weeks later, Pvt. Baumann was promoted to private first class, assigned a military occupational specialty (MOS) of 2500 (basic communications man), and transferred to Headquarters Company, 7th Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendleton, to wait assignment to Signal School.

After two months, a billet opened up and on 31 July, 1951, Pfc Baumann returned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego which also housed the Signal School. There, he trained to become a Field Telephone Operator (RTO). His instruction included the employment, operation, and maintenance of the two main field radios of the day - the AN/PRC-6, a hand-held squad radio called the “Handie-Walkie” (not the Hollywood corrupted “Walkie-Talkie”) and the AN/PRC-10, a back-mounted, VHF radio with extended range of 2 miles. VHF and lower microwave frequencies worked best in the mountainous terrain of Korea. These radios were not as ruggedized as the later models introduced during the Vietnam Conflict; they contained vacuum-packed tubes and had to be used with some care. In addition, Baumann learned how to erect ground antennas for greater ranges to support stationary headquarters’ operations as well as introduction to wire operations and the EE-8 field phone.

Ten weeks later, Pfc Baumann received a new MOS of 2531, Field Telephone Operator, and he and 93 signalman received orders back to Camp Pendleton for four weeks of individual combat training. This last course was the final preparation for Korea teaching the lessons learned from the previous year of combat on how to survive and operate on the ground. On 3 January 1952, his group completed the course with Company “G”, 2nd Battalion, 2st Infantry Training Regiment and reported to the Staging Regiment for further transfer to the 17th Replacement Draft where the new Marines assembled in special transient barracks, until the draft was completely filled with Marines of all MOSs. They filled an amphibious transport ship for the three-week voyage to Korea.

Upon landing at the huge port authority at Inchon, the 1st Marine Division’s personnel section assigned him to Headquarters and Service, Company of the Third Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment (3/7). He joined the Communications Platoon which supported the battalion command post and supplied wireman and field radio operators for special missions such as setting up relay stations and working with tactical air control parties and forward observers.

At the time Cpl. Baumann arrived, the 1st Marine Division was completing a year-long tour of combat on the East-Central Front having fought several intense battles like “the Punchbowl” to wrest key mountain positions away from the communist Chinese.

The 1st Division received a new assignment in March 1952. It had orders to relocate to western Korea and to relieve the 1st ROK Division. Upon arrival, it took over a sector of the extreme left of the UN line with the responsibility of blocking the historic invasion route to Seoul. The division's main line of resistance stretched across difficult terrain for more than 30 miles from the Kimpo Peninsula to the British Commonwealth sector. The 7th Marines, less the 2d Battalion, went into reserve after completing its redeployment. Its mission was to be prepared to assume at any time either a defensive or offensive posture. Additionally, it had the tasks of drawing up counterattack plans, protecting the division rear, improving secondary line defenses, and conducting training exercises.

On 11 May 1952, the 7th Marines moved out of reserve and replaced the 5th Marines at the front. Major ground action developed late that month with a limited offensive operation being conducted by the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines This maneuver was typical of the fighting in western Korea. Such engagements were aimed at either capturing Communist outposts or repelling enemy attacks. The 1st Battalion in its assault was directed to seize two areas of high ground to the right of the regiment's sector. Enemy resistance proved too tough to overcome as withering fire forced the battalion to retire to its own lines with 9 killed and 107 wounded. Included in the latter figure were three platoon leaders from Company A—all second lieutenants.

Although it was thwarted in securing its objectives, the 1st Battalion did kill 45 of the enemy. In addition, an estimated 40 more were killed and another 40 wounded. Two Marines killed in the action were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The relative calm that followed this engagement was punctuated by brief firefights between the 7th Marines and opposing units. A platoon from Company G, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, in one such encounter on 3 July 1952, was subjected to devastating fire from enemy small arms, mortars, and artillery while assaulting a fortified hill.

In October 1952, the Chinese stepped up their attacks on Marine outposts that guarded the division 's right flank. These crucial positions were occupied by the 7th Marines then commanded by Colonel Thomas C. Moore, Jr. The enemy began by unleashing a mortar and artillery barrage on Outposts Seattle and Warsaw. Both fell but Warsaw was quickly reoccupied. Lieutenant Colonel Gerald F. Russell's 3d Battalion, 7th Marines with artillery support from the 2d Battalion, 11th Marines counterattacked in an effort to retake Seattle. Repeated attempts failed. Meanwhile, Chinese assaults on other Marine strongpoints continued. Outpost Detroit was overrun on 7 October while Frisco although hard hit, was able to hold out. In the intense struggle for the outposts, Company I, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines acquired in the first week of October an unusual but painful distinction. Heavy shelling continued through October, but no new major Communist assault took place until the 26th when Outposts Ronson and Warsaw came under attack. Both were subsequently captured. The momentum of the attack carried the enemy into the main defenses. The men of the 7th Marines had to pull back and establish a new line. They then initiated a counterattack on the 27th with Company H leading the way. Attacking through a veritable hail of small arms, artillery, and mortar fire, the company drove a wedge into Communist lines. While Company H was heavily engaged, units of the 1st Marines deployed to the area to render support. The attack began anew early on the following morning with the 7th Marines pushing out through a thick blanket of fog. By 0845, Ronson had been retaken. The battle for the outposts resulted in moderate casualties for the regiment but 32 of its men were taken prisoner.

A stalemate soon settled over the 1st Marine Division's segment of the front. Only sporadic flareups in fighting transpired. The Communists did not launch a new offensive in the region until the end of March 1953. By that time, Cpl Baumann had seen the last of combat: having completed his tour of duty without a wound, he rotated back to the continental United States embarking on 8 February on the USS General Walker, an amphibious transport ship. The Walker docked in San Diego on 22 February, and motor transport conveyed the happy Marines to Camp Pendleton to new units and a most-welcomed leave.

Upon his return to Camp Pendleton in early April, Cpl Baumann joined the Army-Navy Gunfire Liaison Company, of the 3rd Signals Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. The 3rd Division had been reestablished the prior year and ANGLICO, as it was called, was a special unit made up of Marine and Navy forward observers and their RTOs to operate with and support US Army units and allied forces by calling in naval gunfire and tactical USN and USMC air missions. Cpl Baumann’s operational expertise gained in Korea made his presence critical for training. However, just days into this assignment, he was seriously injured in an automobile accident in Chula Vista and spent a full week recovering at the US Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton.

Released on 24 April, Cpl Baumann returned to ANGLICO to continue training and preparing for exercises. In July, he was sent to 3rd Support Battalion on temporary duty as a rifle range coach while the battalion underwent annual requalification. When he returned to his unit on 27 July 1953, he learned that the 3rd Marine Division had received orders to ship out for Japan. The commander-in-chief of United Nations Forces had decided to add another Marine Division in the Far East as a permanent deterrent to communist aggression. The Korean War was over, but the 1st Marine Division and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing remained in place in their combat positions waiting to see if the armistice would hold.

Corporal Baumann having just returned from a full tour of duty just months before and with an expiration of active service deadline just six months away was ineligible to return overseas. On 30 July, he transferred to the Commanding General, Force Troops at Camp Pendleton where he served for a month prior to transferring to 3d Provisional Casual Battalion and then 2d Provisional Casual Battalion while Marine personnel planners decided what to do with him for last remaining months of active duty. On 31 October, he reported to the Service Squadron at Air FMF Pacific at MCAS El Toro, Santa Ana, to serve out the rest of his enlistment. He went on leave over the Christmas holidays, returning on New Year’s Day. On 1 February, he was promoted to sergeant, and three weeks later, on 22 February reached the end of obligated service. Handed an honorable discharge, and given a voucher for the trip home and unused back pay, he mustered out of the Marine Corps to return home and begin his next stage of his journey as a civilian.

In 1954, Robert met the love of his life, Cynthia Vogel at Camp Pendleton, California. Later that year, on September 11, they would marry in Northern Nevada. The couple blended their lives and families. He would immediately become a stepfather to Christopher Vogel. In 1956, they were blessed with the birth of their son, David.

In 1955, the family relocated to Southern Nevada. To support his growing family, Robert worked for various companies: Henny Penny Distributors, Nevada Iron & Metal Getchill Mine, Ron Purdy's Salvage Yard and Deluca Beverage, Nevada Beverage before retiring in 1993.

Robert was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who enjoyed his family, hunting deer and elk. While on his trips outdoors he liked digging in the dirt looking for lost treasures and artifacts he could find along the way. In retirement, Robert also enjoyed collecting matchbooks, buttons, and watching his favorite TV show M.A.S.H. Robert lived his life to the fullest and will truly be missed.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Cynthia; his parents, stepson, Christopher, two sisters and a nephew. He is survived by his son, David (Cindy); two granddaughters: Leslea (Brandon) and Stephanie (Adam); grandsons: Anthony and Robert; four great grandchildren: Chloe, Jaden, Kenna, and Alexander; one sister, Edith; his daughter-in-law, Lynn; and nine nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Robert will be held Thursday, February 1, 2024 from 10:40 AM to 11:10 AM at Southern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veteran's Memorial Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005.