Vernon Baker joined the U.S. Marine Corps on December 30, 1964. He served at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot for basic training from December 30, 1964 until May 10, 1965. Vernon received advanced training at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Memphis, at Millington, TN from May 25, 1965 until December 14, 1965. He joined HMX-1 (the president’s helicopters) at Marine Corps Air Station, Quantico, Virginia, where he served from December 27, 1965 until March 17, 1971. On May 3, 1971, he transferred to HMM-164 at Okinawa, Japan. On June 1, 1972, he returned to HMX-1 at Quantico, Virginia. On July 25, 1979, he transferred to HMM-264 at New River, North Carolina and June 10, 1982, to HMM-365 at New River. On November 29, 1983, he transferred to MATSG-90 at NAS Memphis then January 1, 1988, to NAMTRAGRU Memphis. He retired September 30, 1990, after 26 years, as a Master Gunnery Sergeant.