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Show v'-2- "j feSsSSilSv: ' ;:: ; - 6 N-- ,,,v4 "pS3 Apr" " Section j the " 'J J' 0 4 .Ok ) .. x 4V2-ho- Arriving at Ibapah on a typical working weekend, Captain Baker signals his approach by circling his single-engin- e airplane over the tiny community. Reaction is fast. "Someone always hears or sees rny airplane." Pickup is made at the airstrip, a '2,000 - foot ' V e' M abandoned dirt runway which was regraded by Indian. to with a desire Charged these "first help Americans" in his own American reservation residents especially for Captain Baker's aircraft. He spends all day teeth, Saturday cavities, and filling way, Captain Baker found that the Goshute Indians could use more dental care. Working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Air Force, Captain Baker acquired surplus dental equipment. With the help oi TSgt. Ernest L. Gunderson, now retired, Captain Baker repaired and installed the equipment in his new weekend office a converted schoomouse in Ibapah, Utah, a town on the the of located edge r . reservation. Ibapah is a remote area some 160 miles as the crow flies southwest of Hill I1 ur by air. "store-and-service-statio- n" Jtf . B AFB. It means a rugged by trip automobile, or 1M hours He comes to those who need him "on the wings of a snow-whit- e bird." For some 120 Goshute Indians on their resera vation located on the the arrival border, of Capt. Melvin B. "Bun" Baker Jr.'s Piper aircraft is a major event. Capt. (Dr.) Baker is an Air Force dentist assigned to the Hill AFB, Utah, dental clinic. Months ago he watched a television discussing documentary COUNTRY OFFICE f 1973 Dentist flys ' Utah-Nevad- r. -- working on gums. Word travels fast when "Doc" is scheduled to be open for business. Full workload is often routing. People travel in for miles around. Often there are more than patients. Captain Baker does not charge tor his work. His payment"? Trinkets, medallions, a free lunch and smiles of appreciation. Besides these? "It's personally rewarding," said Captain Baker. PATIENT PATIENT conti:ntment - COUNTRY OFFICE Dr. M. R. Raker's combined dental and medical office Is Hill AFB dental clinic. located in a converted CaPl- PATIENT PATIENT - HOME --- M. B. Raker checks Goshute schoolhouse. BACK - Meslas beams after seeing Indian girl, Ixvann Keoke, for cavities. Captain of Baker Inspects an Air Force patient at the CONTENTMENT X-ra- ys - Pretty Bernadelte "her" dentist. A RLE ASSISTANT Refore Ernest retiring, TSgt. Gunderson was Captain Raker's right-han- d man at the Goshute tndian Reservation. He repaired BACK HOME I I fJ J I i iff- . y J i I ABLE ASSISTANT BAKER BIRD 35 and helped install dental equipment at the doctor's weekend office. BAKER RIRD-And- as he came "on the wings of a snow-whit- e bird," so he .... but goes only when his work is done. |