Major General Tommy H. Baker (USA Retired) will give a presentation on the local National Guard Unit at the Huntingdon TN Historical Society’s next meeting on Wednesday, August 20 at 9 a.m. in the conference room of Huntingdon City Hall .
MG Baker is the Commissioner for Tennessee’s Department of Veteran’s Services. In December of 1980, He began his military career as a 19D Cavalry Scout in Troop B, 230th Cavalry in Huntingdon. He served for four years and then entered the Tennessee Military Academy.
MG Baker was later commissioned as an Armor Officer in 1985.
General Baker served as the Assistant Adjutant General-Army at Joint Force Headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee from 2014-2018.
He graduated from UT Martin in 1995, and received his Masters in 2003 from Touro University.
General Baker is also a 2011 graduate of the United States Army War College with a Master’s in Strategic Studies in National Defense Policy.
He was deployed to Kuwait in 2004 and then again in 2008. In 2008 he served as the Commander of the 30th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Q-West, Iraq.
General Baker has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and the Tennessee Distinguished Service Medal, to name just a few.
The local National Guard Unit in Huntingdon, Tennessee is Troop B, 230th Cavalry Unit within 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment. It is part of the Tennessee Army National Guard and the total Force of American Defense. As a force for defense, they participate in domestic and international operations.
The Tennessee National Guard was formally established in 1887 by the 45th General Assembly. The Tennessee National Guard is known for its volunteerism and responding to state emergencies and to national security needs. As seen in the picture below, the original armory in Huntingdon, Tennessee was damaged by the May 1971 tornado.
Some date the Tennessee National Guard back to August 17, 1774 when Captain Evan Shelby organized the first known mobilization of militia in the self-governing Watauga settlement, which is present day Sullivan and Carter counties.
Please come join us as we share and learn about the history of our local National Guard. We look forward to seeing you!
