THE
323
↑ Earl Baum’s sister, Emily Golz of Tallahassee, looks through a commemorative magazine on WWII; ↗ Gold Star family pins along with posthumous Purple Heart. “A part of the family died when he died,” said niece April Bruckmann.
As Baum’s family grew through the generations, family members found ways to jointly and uniquely honor him as a sailor and to cherish his memory as an uncle, cousin or brother. On Memorial Day or Pearl Harbor Day, the families would plant flags at local cemeteries. During the Tallahassee funeral service in March, David and Laura Golz dressed their 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son in sailor suits with white-trimmed anchors — a salute to their great-great uncle’s naval service. Allen Baum, Alver’s son, named his children after his uncle Earl Paul Baum. Now, Earl Brian Baum and James Paul Baum carry on the family name. Family members even have honored him with defiance. Nephew Aaron Baum, 53, a machinist mate first class petty officer at the time, recalls a moment in the mid-1980s when he was aboard the USS Kansas City. As Baum explains it, he was manning the rails and rendering honors as his ship passed the memorial of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor. “I was caught facing the wrong direction,” he recalled. “A chief started correcting me, telling me that ‘the Arizona’s over there!’ I replied by pointing to Oklahoma’s mooring block, saying, ‘Yeah Chief, but my uncle died over there.’ I then straightened out, and no
26
September–October 2019
further corrective action was required … and nothing else was said.” Three years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Oklahoma was raised from its watery grave. Skeletal remains of the crew could not be identified at the time, so they were buried in a common grave at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, informally known as Punchbowl cemetery. Many of the families visited the site over the years. Niece Sandy DeLopez did so with her husband, Dr. Tom DeLopez, in 1987. Tom still remembers the words on one of the plaques, which struck a powerful and personal chord with the family. In these gardens are recorded The names of Americans Who gave their lives In the service of their country And whose earthly resting place Is known only to God Sandy’s mom, Emily Golz, was just 12 years old when her older brother left home. Decades later, she would take charge in getting his remains identified and would spearhead efforts to bring him home. As part of a “Keeping the Promise” mission, the Defense Department in 2012 reached out to families of unidentified service members to gather DNA, and three
TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM
years later, officials once again exhumed the remains of Baum and his shipmates. Using DNA from Baum’s sisters, scientists used mitochondrial DNA analysis to identify his remains — ending 77 years of searching and wondering for the family. The family chose Tallahassee as a final resting place for Baum because Golz, his youngest sister, lives here, as does DeLopez, his niece. In March, with full military respect and honors, Baum’s remains were placed at Tallahassee National Cemetery. Almost 30 members of his extended family came from various states to honor him during the service. “He was so family oriented, the family clown,” Golz remembered during a family dinner the night before the burial service. “He would want to be sitting at the family table gathered for his funeral.” With a wink and knowing eye of someone in her ninth decade, she said, “maybe he is.” Nephew Raymond Yauch expressed gratefulness that his aunt fought for closure. With two sons now serving in the military, Yauch says he finds special motivation in keeping his uncle’s story alive. “I never knew him, but I felt I did,” he said. “These brave souls deserve all the recognition we can give them. Don’t forget their stories.” TM photography by BRUCE PALMER