John Absalom Baird – Colonel, United States Army

John Absalom Baird, a relative of Absalom Baird, was born in 1890.  He served in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Colonel.  He died in 1951 and was buried in the Absalom Baird plot in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery.  His wife, Helen Bates Baird (1890-1972) is buried with him.  Their names appear on the side of Absalom’s private monument.

Courtesy of Michael Stein:

Colonel John Absalom Baird (1890-1961)
Born in Virginia June 23rd, 1890
Cadet U.S. Naval Academy 1907-11
Midshipman 1911-12
Ensign March 7, 1912
Second Lieutenant April 26, 1912
First Lieutenant July 1, 1916
Captain May 15, 1917
Major (NA) September 14, 1918
Major July 1, 1920
Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 1935
Colonel (AUS) October 16, 1940
Colonel December 1, 1940
Ret. January 31, 1947

Legion of Merit

Served with the Coast Artillery Corps 1912-23
Served with the Chemical Warfare Service 1923-47

Student, Chemical Warfare School 1923
Student, Army Industrial College 1927-28
Student, Command & General Staff College 1932-

BAIRD, JOHN ABSALOM
COL CAC

• DATE OF BIRTH: 06/23/1890
• DATE OF DEATH: 09/30/1951
• BURIED AT: SECTION 1  SITE 55 WH X-
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

BAIRD, HELEN B

• DATE OF BIRTH: 08/27/1890
• DATE OF DEATH: 07/06/1972
• BURIED AT: SECTION 1  SITE 55
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
• WIFE OF JA BAIRD, COL, US ARMY

Research regarding his career continues.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard