Tom Baker, a Vietnam combat veteran and president of the Jackson County Veterans Organization, has battled PTSD for over 50 years. At 19, he enlisted in the Army, eager to serve, only to return home to hostility and rejection.
As a door gunner, Tom faced the brutal realities of war—losing friends, enduring firefights, and confronting the harsh transition from combat to civilian life. Silent struggles with PTSD followed, culminating in years of survivor’s guilt and emotional isolation.
Through the love of his wife, Marsha, and the support of fellow veterans, Tom found healing. He founded the Jackson County Veterans Organization to ensure today’s returning service members receive the welcome and community he never had.
Tom shares his story to help others battling unseen wounds, emphasizing that seeking help isn’t weakness—it’s survival. “If you keep it all inside, it will eat you alive,” he says. Through writing, connection, and understanding, he continues his mission to support those who served.
BOOKS BY TOM BAKER
The Hawk and the Dove: The Hawk and the Dove is historical fiction with threads of magical realism and romance. It develops over six wartime periods: the Viking era, the Peninsula War, the US Civil War, World War II, and the killing fields of Rwanda and Vietnam. A hawk and dove flow through these times, influencing characters in their struggles.
Warrior Wannabe: In this unflinching memoir, Tom Baker shares his raw and authentic journey, blending harrowing Vietnam War experiences with humorous tales of his North Carolina upbringing. Through candid storytelling, he reflects on the people and forces that shaped him, revealing the lasting impact of history and the dual nature of a warrior mindset—both its burdens and enlightenment. More than a soldier, Baker is a survivor who has faced darkness without losing sight of the light. --Alex Macaulay, PhD, US military historian