U.S. Sen. Ernst presents medals to Newton veteran

When Gordon Baker stepped out into the front lobby of the Jasper County Veterans Affairs office on Thursday morning, he took a deep breath.

Baker seemed excited about a ceremony in which U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst presented Baker, a Vietnam veteran and Newton resident, with his Army service medals. As he looked out into the crowd of media and about 20 people, including family, Veterans Affairs staff and Ernst's staff members, he experienced an intense and familiar feeling.

"It was kind of like getting off the plane when I came home from Vietnam," Baker said. "That anticipation. It was really unique to step out and see the senator and all these people."

Baker, 66, grew up Albia, and many of his male peers joined the military about the same time. He didn't receive any medals when he was discharged, as was the case for many servicemen during that era, even though a few honors were bestowed upon him in writing.

Thursday, Baker was accompanied by his wife, Donna, and the couples' daughter and son, Lisa and Bob, as he was presented with his long-awaited service medals by Ernst when she stopped in Newton on Thursday morning.

Ernst was scheduled to make similar medal presentations Thursday and more are slated for Friday, which is Veterans Day. The first-term senator's 23 combined years between the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard included a 12-month tour in Kuwait.

"I don't get out to present these kinds of honors as often as I would like," Ernst said. "I'm very happy when I get to do this."

Baker said he was in the midst of reviewing paperwork around the time of a medical procedure a few years ago when he noticed someone in the Army had put in for him to receive several medals. He knew those medals had never been handed to him.

"I started making some phone calls, and, eventually, Sen. Ernst's staff helped me out," Baker said.

Baker said taking a 2013 Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. amid many other Iowa veterans his age also inspired him to get moving on obtaining his medals.

The awards he earned include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device, and Expert Badge and Auto Rifle Bar.

Ernst profusely thanked several people for aiding Baker in obtaining his medals — especially Brenda Safranski, who handles veterans issues for the senator.

Even though this week's tour is largely devoted to awards ceremonies, Ernst will likely have some conversations about health care reform for veterans.

"We need to focus very heavily on our outpatient clinics — our CBOCs (Community-Based Outpatient Clinics)," Ernst said. "We'll continue to work with those clinics at an administrative level, making sure services are being provided and working on getting wait lists and wait times down."

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com