First Lt. US. Army, James Baca

James Baca was educated in the public schools of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. This included St. Michael’s College in the capital city. From the 27th of May to the 9th of June 1911, he attended military schools in Camp Lakeside and Point Loma, California. Here, he underwent infantry training with a provisional brigade. As a young man, he earned a living as a jeweler in Santa Fe. 

He enlisted in Company E, 1st New Mexico Infantry (Santa Fe, New Mexico) on the 22nd of May 1909. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 1st of June 1909. 

He rose through the ranks receiving promotions to 1st Lieutenant on 8 June 1911 and to Captain on the 25th of October 1913. He was placed in command of his company shortly after. 

On the 24th of April 1916, Company E was called into service along with the rest of the New Mexico National Guard in response to the raid on Columbus, NM by the forces of the Mexican bandit Francisco “Pancho” Villa. Baca and his company reported to Albuquerque on the 9th of May and were in Columbus by the 10th of June where they were mustered into the Federal Service of the United States. 

The time on the border was spent patrolling duties and training. The company received high honors for its drilling exercises on the border. The call up on the border also received national press attention. One of the reporters who made her way to the border was Antoinette Hanna. A young and adventurous reporter from Kentucky, she caught the eye of the young captain. Their whirlwind courtship culminated in a military-style wedding performed in the border camp on the 4th of November 1916. After the ceremony, which included passing under an archway of crossed sabers, the couple honeymooned in El Paso, Texas. 

The NM National Guard continued their service on the border until they were mustered out of Federal Service on the 6th of April 1917. Company E returned to Santa Fe.  

After being mustered out of Federal Service on the 6th of April 1917, another call to duty came less than two weeks later when the New Mexico National Guard was once again federalized for service overseas. This time, Baca would not be commander of his company. He was appointed Adjutant General of New Mexico with the rank of Brigadier General. 

It was under his leadership that the Guardsmen of New Mexico were readied, trained, outfitted, and shipped overseas. Due to the excellent results in this endeavor, Major General Leonard Wood recommended that he be reappointed as Adjutant General, so Baca continued serving. During this time, he took an active part in the organization of the American Legion in New Mexico.  

When they returned to Santa Fe, Antoinette utilized her clerical skills and knowledge of office procedures to keep her husband’s office in order. When Dr. Henry Rolf Brown succeeded Baca as Adjutant General, he took note of her skills and continued her employment in the office of the Adjutant General.    

However, Dr. Brown thought her skills deserved more recognition, so he named her Assistant Adjutant General and commissioned her with the rank of Major. This action was announced in newspapers across the country. Major Baca was proclaimed the first female officer in the state and in the entire Army. Her duties and commission continued when her husband served his second term as Adjutant General.  

Baca was appointed Adjutant General again in 1927 with the rank of Colonel. He resigned less than a year later due to health. He served in several political offices for the city and county including secretary of the Republican State Central Committee. His ability to make and keep friends allowed him to become an effective leader in both civil and military circles.  

He was buried with full military honors and was survived by his wife, two daughters (Antoinette and Frances), and a brother, Jesus M. Baca. Jesus had also served with his brother on the border and was later sent overseas with the rest of the New Mexico National Guard during World War I.  

His widow passed away on the 26th of August 1976 and is buried with her husband. 

 Notes:

[1] Baptized 5 JUL 1891, Santa Fe Cathedral “Santiago Baca”, legitimate son of Bernardino Baca and Jesusita Johnson.  Baptisms, Santa Fe Cathedral, Santa Fe, New Mexico, (1NOV1889 – 8DEC1896), Page 67, #119; LDS Microfilm #16895, Image 44 of 608 

[2] Findagrave.com | James Baca  

[3] U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962, for James Baca, Image 870-871 of 992, accessed at Ancestry.com on 22JAN2022 

[4] U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985, National Guard Register, 1927, page 589, accessed from Ancestry.com, 22JAN2022 

[5] “Gold Medal for Baca”, Santa Fe New Mexican, Wednesday, April 21, 1915, Last Edition, Page Five, column 6. 

[6] “Hanna-Baca:  Popular Earlington Woman Weds National Guard Captain in New Mexico”, The Bee (Earlington, Hopkins County, Kentucky), Tuesday, November 14, 1916, Page one, column 2 

[7] “Mrs. T. H. Baca is Commissioned to be Assistant Adjutant”,  Albuquerque Morning Journal, 27 April 1921, page 10, column 5.  

[8] “Baca Rites Saturday”, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Thursday, June 20, 1940, Page One, column 7 

[9] “Former State Guard Head Dies in Capital”, The Albuquerque Tribune, Thursday, June 20, 1940, Page two, column 5 

[10] “Baca Services Here Saturday), Albuquerque Journal, Friday, June 21, 1940, Page three, column 1 

[11] Findagrave.com | Antoinette Hanna Baca  

[12] “Obituary Notices:  Antoinette Baca”, The Messenger (Madisonville, Kentucky), Friday, August 27, 1976, Page 16, column 1