The Gold Star Mothers identification was a national honor to those who lost sons in WWI, not just Hood County.

My grandmother was posted as Mrs. Lelia Rockwell. Her name was Mrs. Lelu Rockwell. Her son that was killed in WWI in France was Walter A. Baker, the first Hood County boy to be killed in service.

Walter A. Baker was born January 26, 1889 in Somervell County, Texas. He had gone AWOL and reenlisted under the name of John Ford. He was in the Rainbow Division and was in the first detachment to land overseas. He was wounded in the Battle of Champagne in France that resulted in his death July 31, 1918. This death was recorded as John Ford. His remains were returned to Hood County, and he is buried in the Granbury Cemetery as Walter A. Baker. The Granbury VFW Post No. 278 was named for Elmer Joiner, considered to be the first Hood County soldier killed in World War I. Because of the confusion regarding Walter's name, the naming of the post in honor of Walter A. Baker was not allowed.

My father, Oran C. Baker, registered for WWI service on June 5, 1917. He was with the Military Police attached to the U.S. Detective Department attached to the Cactus Division. However, he returned home because he was due to ship out November 12, 1918 with the Cactus Division from Camp Travis, San Antonio. The orders were cancelled when Armistice was declared. Oran C. Baker was born January 17, 1894 in Paluxy, Hood County, Texas and died July 20, 1975 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas; buried in Holly Hills Memorial Cemetery, Granbury, Texas.

My father's family lived in the Mambrino community. On the adjoining property lived the Jones family.

Mrs. Lola Jones, who is listed as a Gold Star Mother, had a son named Hood who was also killed in WWI. Hood Jones was my father's best friend from the time they were young teenagers. Hood Jones was born December 12, 1895. He was in training at Camp Travis, San Antonio from July 22, 1918 until August 15, 1918 when he was moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. On September 13, 1918 he was moved to Camp Upton, New York, and on September 24, 1918 he left for France. At sea he took pneumonia and died October 5, 1918 and was buried at sea. Three months from the time he was inducted he had died at sea.

The Mambrino community was hit hard with the death of Hood Jones and Walter A. Baker. My father was hit hard three times with the deaths of his brother and his best friend and his call to service.

Daddy was the second draftee to be called up from Hood County. There were other boys from the Mambrino community; but it was a community that was called on for many sacrifices during WWI.

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