Naval History and Heritage Command

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Harold LeRoy Baxter was born in Waupaca, Wisconsin, on October 9, 1903, son of Emmet and Carrie Faulks Baxter. He attended Lawrence College, in Appleton, Wisconsin, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy; and the University of Colorado, at Boulder, from which he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. From 1932 until his entry into the Naval Service in May 1942, he was engaged in the private practice of Medicine and Surgery in Neenah, Wisconsin. Commissioned Lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserve, on May 15, 1942, he subsequently advanced in rank to that of Captain, MC, USN, from July 1, 1955, having transferred to the Medical Corps of the U.S. Navy in July 1946.

After indoctrination at the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois, in May and June 1942, and brief duty as Medical Officer at the Naval Gun School, Michigan City, Indiana, Dr. Baxter was assigned to Mobile Unit No. 2, at Pearl Harbor, T.H., in July and August of that year. He then joined the USS Boise, in which he served as Junior Medical Officer until October 1943. During his period of service on board that cruiser, the USS Boise participated in the 2nd Battle of Cape Esperance and the Philippine Islands, Guam and other Asiatic Fleet Operations in the Pacific, and the Sicilian occupation and Salerno landings in the European Theater.

Upon his return to the United States in October 1943 he reported to the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for three months’ training in Psychiatry and Neurology. During the period February 1944 to December 1945 he was assigned to Psychiatric Service at the Naval Hospitals in Seattle, Washington; Farragut, Idaho; and Samar, Philippine Islands (Fleet Hospital #114). For three years, during which he was transferred from the Naval Reserve to the regular Navy he was assigned to Medical Service, SOQ, at the Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, Illinois.

The year 1949 was spent as a Fellow in Neurology at Jefferson Medical School, Philadelphia, after which, in February 1950 he reported as Chief of Neuro-Psychiatry at the Naval Hospital, Bremerton, Washington. Remaining there until March 1953, he next served for a year as Resident in Neurology at the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, and from April 1954 until June 1961 had similar duty at the Naval Hospital, Oakland, California. When detached he reported to the Naval Support Activity, Taipei, Republic of China, for duty. On February 18, 1963, he was ordered to the Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, California.

Captain Baxter has a Letter of Commendation with Ribbon and Combat “V,” for his part in the Second Battle of Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal, on October 11, 1942. In addition he has the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, also with two stars; World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; China Service medal (extended); National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

Doctor Baxter is a 32nd degree Mason and is a member of the Oddfellows and Kiwanis Club, Neenah Club and Knights of Pythias. At college he was a member of Lawrence College Literary Society.

He died in Santa Ana, California on April 24, 1977.

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