Sean Baker (soldier)
Sean Baker | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | United States Air Force airman, United States Army soldier |
| Years active | Until 2004 (discharged) |
| Known for | Injuries sustained during 2003 training exercise at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base; subsequent legal action |
Sean Baker is a veteran of the United States Air Force who sustained injuries during a 2003 training exercise at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and was subsequently discharged from service.
Background
Baker's military career included service with the Kentucky Army National Guard and participation in the initial Gulf War. In 2003, he was stationed with the 438th Military Police unit at Guantanamo Bay.
Incident
During a January 2003 training drill at Camp Delta, Baker was assigned to simulate a detainee, wearing an orange jumpsuit over his uniform. The immediate reaction force mistakenly identified him as an actual prisoner who had attacked a sergeant. Although Baker used the prearranged safeword ("red") and declared his identity as a U.S. soldier, he was violently assaulted. His head was pressed against the metal floor, impairing his ability to breathe. The attack ceased only after he ripped open his jumpsuit, exposing his military uniform beneath.
Following the incident, Baker was hospitalized for head trauma, initially receiving care at a military medical facility before being transferred to a Navy hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he remained for six days and was granted a two-week injury discharge. Subsequently, he suffered seizures attributed to traumatic brain injury, necessitating a 48-day hospitalization at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Afterward, he was assigned to light duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey and medically discharged in April 2004.
After retirement
Upon sharing his experience with a reporter from Kentucky, a spokeswoman for United States Southern Command initially questioned the legitimacy of Baker’s injuries and denied any connection to the training exercise. However, on 29 September 2003, the Physical Evaluation Board officially determined that Baker’s TBI was caused by his participation as a non-compliant detainee during the Guantanamo Bay drill.
Although the Army later recognized that the injury was linked to the exercise, the spokeswoman maintained it was only partially responsible. A military inquiry found no wrongdoing related to Baker’s injury. Notably, the training video documenting the incident has not been located.
In June 2005, Kentucky Congressman Ben Chandler called on military officials to release Baker’s medical records. An official told the LA Times: "While it is unfortunate that Spc. Baker was injured, the standards of professionalism we expect mandate our training be as realistic as possible."
As of June 2005, Baker receives $2,350 per month in military disability payments along with $1,000 from social security. He has expressed willingness to relinquish these benefits if reinstated into active duty.
Lawsuit
In May 2005, Baker initiated legal action against Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey, and Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England, accusing them of violating his constitutional rights during the incident. He is seeking $15 million in damages and reinstatement in the Army. Nevertheless, under the Supreme Court's 1950 decision in Feres v. United States, Baker is prohibited from pursuing such litigation.
Baker remains committed to continuing his military service and believes that suitable accommodations could be made to enable him to serve despite his disability.
External links
- Army Acknowledges G.I. Was Assaulted During Service, New York Times, 9 June 2004
- Ex-Soldier Challenges Army's Denial of Beating in Cuban Training, Lex18, 17 October 2004
- Soldier Attacked Amid Training Exercises, CBS News, 4 November 2004
- U.S. Government Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit by Soldier Harmed in Cuba, Lexington Herald Leader, 17 August 2005