Navy officer killed in 1997 helicopter crash honored with renamed Middleburg veterans clinic

Beth Reese Cravey, Florida Times-Union
·6 min read
U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack (left) and her predecessor, Ted Yoho, flank Chief Petty Officer Andrew "Drew" Baker, his children Alice, 10, and Andrew Kenneth Baker III, his wife Navy Hospital Corpsman Deanna Baker and his mother Tina Baker. They attended a Tuesday ceremony renaming the Middleburg VA clinic after the late Baker patriarch, Chief Petty Officer Andrew K. Baker, who died in a Navy helicopter crash in 1997.

His call sign was "rambunctious."

The late Chief Petty Officer Andrew "Andy" Kenneth Baker, an antisubmarine warfare chief and combat search and rescue crewman, was always smiling, despite his intense duties.

"The job came with high risk.  Andy balanced the seriousness with humor to relieve the stress and intensity," his widow, Tina Baker, said. "Some of his rescues were not during calm seas. He took his job seriously but once the flight suit came off, he was all fun and games."

Andy Baker, who lived in Middleburg and was based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, was killed March 13, 1997, when the helicopter he was on crashed at sea during a SEAL training event. He had served 17 years.

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After years of advocacy, his wife and family watched Tuesday as the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Middleburg, part of the VA's North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, was renamed the Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.

"Andy would be humbled knowing his name is on that wall. He had friends who died in service to their country," she said, citing Vincent Boswick and Steven Voigt in particular. Their deaths, also in helicopter crashes, "affected Andy tremendously. He would have been advocating for this honor to go to one of them," she said.

Chief Petty Officer Andrew K. Baker died in 1997 when the Navy helicopter he was on crashed at sea. The VA Clinic in Middleburg, where he lived, has been named after Baker.
Chief Petty Officer Andrew K. Baker died in 1997 when the Navy helicopter he was on crashed at sea. The VA Clinic in Middleburg, where he lived, has been named after Baker.

Former U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho began advocating for a Middleburg VA clinic in 2015 and announced its pending arrival in 2018. The clinic opened in 2020 at 400 College Drive, Suite 200. Services include primary care, women’s health, laboratory and vaccinations, mental health care, nutrition and weight management, pain psychology, social work, substance abuse and tobacco cessation and telehealth services. Veterans who need specialty services are referred to the Gainesville or Lake City VA medical centers.

The Jacksonville area has about 75,000 veterans and active-duty military members, many of whom were once based at NAS Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport, according to city figures.

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Yoho and county leaders wanted the new clinic named after a local military member. Tina Baker was among those who submitted names for a public vote and, of five finalists, her husband got the most votes. Yoho's successor, U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Gainesville, continued the renaming effort that had to be passed by Congress and signed by the president.

"Today was a momentous day," Cammack said of the Tuesday renaming ceremony. "It was truly incredible to see this project finally come to fruition after years of work and I’m honored to have been able to work so closely with Ms. Tina Baker, the widow of Chief Baker, while striving to carry on her husband’s distinguished legacy. Now, Chief Baker will be remembered forever and it is my greatest privilege to have been a part of this project."

She also noted that Baker's son, Chief Petty Officer Andrew "Drew" Baker, will soon deploy overseas to a combat zone. "He will carry on the family legacy of distinguished service to our nation," she said.

Cammack's district no longer includes Clay County, which is now represented in the House by U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, R- Fernandina Beach. But she said she still supported its veterans.

"To our veterans who will visit this clinic and utilize the VA services housed here, we remain steadfast in our support of our nation's heroes, our veterans and their families," she said. "On behalf of a grateful nation, we will never forget your service and sacrifice and will work hard to make sure you have everything you need when it comes to the United States flag and all she stands for."

Wende Dottor, interim executive Health System director, said the VA was honored to acknowledge the life and service of Baker by renaming the county's clinic after one of its hometown heroes.

"When the citizens of Middleburg drive by and see the clinic name, or when veterans enter the Andrew K. Baker VA Clinic, they will know they are honored and recognized for their service and sacrifices and that this clinic is their clinic," Dottor said.

A framed copy of legislation renaming the Middleburg VA Clinic as the Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic was on display at the renaming ceremony. U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack is shown speaking in the background.
A framed copy of legislation renaming the Middleburg VA Clinic as the Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic was on display at the renaming ceremony. U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack is shown speaking in the background.

A proud military family

Andy Baker enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 1980, attending boot camp at Recruit Training Command Orlando. In 1981 he reported to his first duty station, USS Dwight D Eisenhower, as a ship’s serviceman. He also served on the USS Carl Vinson and USS Coral Sea. He later graduated from Naval Aircrew, Aviation Rescue Swimmer School and Aviation Warfare Systems Operator-A School and earned his combat search and rescue designation.

Baker completed multiple cruises, including a world cruise aboard the USS Nimitz and in the North Atlantic while assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 3 at NAS Jacksonville.

Then-Tina Hacker and Andy Baker met when they were both second-class petty officers at NAS Jacksonville. They had two sons, Drew and Jacob. Their father loved fishing with them, coached his son's Little League baseball team and served as local Cub Scout troop leader.

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Tina Baker retired from the Navy in 2005 as a chief warrant officer, but Drew and his wife Deanna Forbes Baker continue the family's Navy service. Both Middleburg High School graduates, he has seen combat and is a Purple Heart recipient while his wife is a hospital corpsman.

Chief Petty Officer Andrew "Drew" Baker holds back his emotions as he speaks about his father, the late Chief Petty Officer Andrew Baker, and the other men killed in a 1997 helicopter crash. Drew Baker was part of a ceremony renaming the Middleburg VA Clinic after his father.
Chief Petty Officer Andrew "Drew" Baker holds back his emotions as he speaks about his father, the late Chief Petty Officer Andrew Baker, and the other men killed in a 1997 helicopter crash. Drew Baker was part of a ceremony renaming the Middleburg VA Clinic after his father.

The younger Baker son, Jacob, died in 2019 at age 27.

"Jacob took his father’s death the hardest. He struggled living without his father," Tina Baker said. "This is common occurrence for Gold Star families [immediate family members of service members who died while on military duty], especially those with children. His father left one day and never came back."

Worsening the grief, the bodies of Baker and other victims of the crash were not recovered for 40 days, she said, and at the time there were few resources for families. The Baker family also lost a nephew in 2006 when Private 1st Class Kevin Ellenburg of Clay County was killed after an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

"He was only 20 years old. We must never forget that today there are military dependents still dealing with the stress of losing a loved one," Tina Baker said.

This is a rendering of the exterior of the newly renamed Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in Middleburg. The late Chief Petty Officer Baker, who lived in Middleburg, was killed when the Navy helicopter he was on crashed at sea during a 1997 training exercise.
This is a rendering of the exterior of the newly renamed Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in Middleburg. The late Chief Petty Officer Baker, who lived in Middleburg, was killed when the Navy helicopter he was on crashed at sea during a 1997 training exercise.

The clinic bearing her late husband's name will bring care and comfort to many, she said.

"My husband’s sacrifice has meant a lifetime of service for the Baker family. We are inspire to live a life for the greater good and in service to our country and community," Tina Baker said. "I hope when people see Andy’s name on the building that it is a remembrance of all who has served including the sons and daughters of military members."

bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109

ANDREW K. BAKER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC

The clinic is at 400 College Drive, Suite 200, Middleburg, FL 32068-8525. The local phone number is (904) 213-2700; the VA health connect number is (877) 741-3400

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Northeast Florida veterans clinic renamed for Andrew K. Baker