Baer, Donald G, RADM

Donald G. Baer, 93, a retired Navy rear admiral who had been a highly decorated submarine commander during World War II and commanded Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines in the mid-1960s, died Nov. 28 at Goodwin House retirement home in Alexandria. He had congestive heart failure.

Donald G. Baer, whose middle initial stood for nothing, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He received a master's degree in the technology of management from American University.

After his military retirement, Adm. Baer settled in the Washington area and spent several years as general manager of a division of Meloy Laboratories that designed and manufactured air-pollution monitoring systems.

He was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Arlington County and moved to Goodwin House from McLean in 1999.

Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Lapon (SS-260)
General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 0586 (February 8, 1945)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Donald "G" Baer (NSN: 0-78684), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. LAPON (SS-260), on the SIXTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 4 September 1944 to 31 October 1944, in enemy Japanese-controlled waters in the South China Sea Area. Skillfully maneuvering his ship, Commander Baer conducted a series of three attacks upon heavily escorted enemy shipping convoys, which resulted in the sinking of four hostile vessels. Although his submarine was subjected to severe depth charge attacks, often close to shore, he succeeded in bringing the LAPON safe to port. By his courage, professional skill and devotion to duty, Commander Baer upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.