Marine Gunnery Sgt. Ronald E. Baum

Died May 3, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

38, of Hollidaysburg, Pa.; assigned to 2nd Intelligence Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed May 3 by hostile fire in Anbar province, Iraq.

* * * * *

Marine killed in Iraq fighting

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — A Marine from western Pennsylvania who volunteered to go to Iraq was killed May 3 in Anbar province, where the turbulent cities of Ramadi and Fallujah are located, according to defense officials and his family.

Gunnery Sgt. Ronald E. Baum, 38, of Hollidaysburg, was a member of the 2nd Intelligence Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Defense officials did not release further information. His brother Jodi Baum, 28, of Altoona, Pa., said defense officials told the family that Baum was in the turret of a Humvee when it was hit by a rocket. Two other Marines in the vehicle survived, Jodi Baum said.

“Ronnie was just so incredible. He volunteered to go to Iraq. He said it would be an opportunity to fulfill his mission and he did it. If there was any way to go, this was the way he would have wanted it,” his brother said.

Ronald Baum and another brother, Marine Staff Sgt. Brian Baum, 37, both joined the Marines in 1986, Jodi Baum said. Ronald Baum took the Marines more seriously.

According to Navy and Marine C orps Web sites, Baum took part in the evacuation of 172 people in Eritrea during a border dispute with Ethiopia in 1998.

He was also an instructor at the Naval Survival School in Rangeley, Maine, where he taught troops to survive in hostile environments and evade capture.

Ronald and Brian Baum were stationed in Iraq, according to Jodi Baum.

Ronald Baum was an avid sports fan and would often call his brothers while watching Pittsburgh sports teams and Penn State football games.

He is survived by his wife, Cindi Baum, 29, and three children, ages 3, 7 and 10.

* * * * *

‘Tough as nails’ Marine killed in Iraq eulogized

ALTOONA, Pa. — A 38-year-old Marine from western Pennsylvania was remembered as fearless and dedicated up until his last minute, when he was hit by a mortar trying to save six soldiers and another Marine.

Hundreds of people crowded into a church in Altoona to honor Gunnery Sgt. Ronald E. Baum, who was killed May 3 in an attack in Al Anbar province, where the turbulent cities of Ramadi and Fallujah are located.

He was buried Tuesday in Blue Knob, not far from his Hollidaysburg home, about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh.

“He gave his life for love of his country, the Marine Corps,” said his wife, Cynthia Baum. “If Ron could speak to us today, he would say, ‘I am proud to be a husband, father, brother, friend, but above all, proud to be a Marine.”’

Baum, a member of the 2nd Intelligence Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, was posthumously honored with the Navy Marine Corps Commendation for his actions during the attack.

Defense officials said Baum and seven soldiers came under mortar and machine gun fire. Baum replaced a soldier atop a Humvee and was killed when it was hit by a mortar.

“He was tough as nails, disciplined, compassionate,” said Baum’s company commander Capt. Michael DuBruel. “He helped make the world a batter place. Ron lived life to the fullest. He died while leading men in battle.”

Ronald Baum and another brother, Marine Staff Sgt. Brian Baum, 37, both joined the Marines in 1986, his family said. Ronald Baum took the Marines more seriously.

“It is our sacred duty to defend this country and what we believe in, and my brother did that,” said Brian Baum, who also was in Iraq, but given leave for the funeral. “All I have to say, if you didn’t know him, you didn’t talk to him, he is the greatest person I’ve ever known in my life, the best man I’ve ever seen in my life.”

According to Navy and Marine Corps Web sites, Baum took part in the evacuation of 172 people in Eritrea during a border dispute with Ethiopia in 1998.

He also was an instructor at the Naval Survival School in Rangeley, Maine, where he taught soldiers to survive in hostile environments and evade capture.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, ages 10 and 4; and a 7-year-old daughter.

— Associated Press