• May 19, 1917 – Jan. 9, 1945
• Born in Knoxville, TN
• Knoxville High School
• Engineering – 1939
• Lt. – Navy
  • Deck officer
• KIA-On the USS Colorado, Lingayen Gulf, Philippines.  He died as a result of accidental gunfire which hit the ship’s superstructure. Eighteen crewmen died and 51 were wounded.
  • Luzon
• Buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee
  • Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines

Karl Porter Baum Jr. (May 19, 1917 – Jan. 9, 1945) was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was graduate of Knoxville High School and the University of Tennessee, completing a degree in Engineering in 1939. He enlisted in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant and served on board the battleship USS Colorado. Lt. Baum and the USS Colorado participated in many battles in the Pacific Theater that included supporting the landing invasions of Tarawa, Saipan, Guam, and Tinian. It survived being shelled by Japanese shore guns on November 20th, 1944 during the invasion of Tinian and later was hit by two kamikaze attacks during the Leyte Gulf campaign on November 27, 1944. Lt. Karl P. Baum was killed in action during the landings to retake the Philippines. On January 9th, 1945, the USS Colorado was participating in the prelanding bombardments in the Lingayen Gulf when its superstructure was hit by accidental friendly gunfire. Lt. Baum was killed in the impact along with 17 other crewmen with 51 wounded. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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