Baldwin’s Bio
Baldwin Wong is a native of Sacramento who grew up in the north area. He attended the local schools and helped in the family grocery business. He was drafted into the Army on August 12, 1970. He was trained as a field radio operator (O-five-bravo) and was stationed in South Korea along the DMZ. After his discharge in 1972, he continued his education at Sacramento State University. While majoring in music, his aspirations expanded from playing trumpet to including, and eventually becoming his career, repairing musical instruments.
While attending a funeral for the father of a close friend in 2005, he was horrified to see the Honor Guard Captain push a button on a boombox to sound Taps, which prompted him to join the VFW as the official live bugler for the Post’s Honor Guard. Because of all the special live Taps requests, he was appointed as the VFW Department of California, State Bugler, and the VFW California District 17, District Bugler.
Baldwin has played live taps for thousands of fallen comrades while sharing in each family’s loss. He is one of the few live veteran buglers in the state. Because of a shortage of live buglers, taps are often played with an electronic digital insert placed in the bell of a bugle. Baldwin is a traditionalist and offers his services whenever needed, and has performed at flag ceremonies, parades, veteran’s holidays, and numerous memorial events.
Along with being the Post bugler, Baldwin held the positions of All State Commander, Post Commander, Sr. Vice Commander, Jr. Vice Commander, All State Quartermaster, Adjutant, Surgeon, Trustee, and Judge Advocate. On the District level, he served as the Adjutant for VFW District 17 from 2009-2010. He was also appointed several times as the VFW National Aide-de-Camp, dating back to 2010, and currently serving as the National Special Aide-de-Camp.
In 2017, Baldwin was invited to join (by invitation only) the Military Order of the Cooties (MOC) of the United States (The Honor Degree of the Veterans of Foreign Wars).
Baldwin and two other comrades are the catapult for the nation’s first VFW Service Dog Training Pilot Program for our war veterans on April 7, 2018. Since then, we have graduated 19 service dogs for our combat veterans.
Baldwin has three sons who are United States Marines and members of VFW Lt. Lansdale Post 67. They have been deployed to hostile areas in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan several times, along with tours in Korea, Okinawa, and Iwakuni Japan.
Baldwin’s commitment and dedication to the VFW is a testament of his devotion to our country and our military.