[Vision2020] War Hero Gets Day of His Own

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (December 16, 2009) Spokesman Review.

-------------------------------------------------

War hero gets day of his own
Otter proclamation honors St. Maries man
Alison Boggs, The Spokesman-Review

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has proclaimed Thursday will be Vernon J. Baker
Day, in honor of the St. Maries resident who is the only living
African-American Medal of Honor recipient from World War II.

“I encourage Idahoans to honor this courageous citizen who is the
embodiment of the true American hero and who ensures and reminds us of all
that is wonderful about Idaho and this great country,” Otter wrote in the
proclamation, signed Dec. 8.

Baker, who served for eight years on the state’s Human Rights Commission,
turns 90 on Thursday. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1997.

“Oh my Lord, thank you,” Baker said when he learned of the proclamation
Tuesday. “I appreciate that very, very much. The only thing I can do about
it is sit here and cry.”

Baker received the Medal of Honor for leading a two-day assault in 1945
against an Italian mountain stronghold occupied by German soldiers and
securing it for American forces.

Baker also is the last survivor of the Buffalo Soldiers unit, the
segregated 270th Regiment of the 92nd Infantry Division, the first
all-black unit to see combat in World War II, according to a news release
from the commission. Baker holds numerous other medals, including a Bronze
Star, a Purple Heart and a Distinguished Service Cross.

In a personal letter, Otter told Baker that his valor and sacrifice
“helped preserve the freedoms we cherish as Americans. You are an example
to all of us, and Idaho is grateful for your service and humbled by your
civic virtue.”

The proclamation was a great way to honor Baker, said Pamela Parks,
director of the Human Rights Commission, the state agency that enforces
anti-discrimination laws. “He added a great deal to the deliberations here

 and was much admired,” she said.

----------------

Vernon Baker today

http://tinyurl.com/VernonBakerToday

----------------

First Lieutenant Vernon J. Baker, 1945

http://tinyurl.com/VernonBaker

----------------

Courtesy of the Army Times at:

http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3067

"In the late 1980s, due the fact that no Medals of Honor were awarded to
Black American soldiers in either of the World Wars, a review of
Distinguished Service Cross awards was initiated to see if some of these
brave soldiers might have been denied the Medal of Honor due to prejudice.
In 1991 the DSC awarded to Freddie Stowers in WWI was upgraded to the
Medal of Honor. Subsequently, on January 13, 1997, the DSC awards to seven
Black veterans of World War II were also upgraded. Vernon Baker was the
only of these seven heroes still alive to personally receive the award
from President Bill Clinton. "

Citation:

"For extraordinary heroism in action on 5 and 6 April 1945, while serving
with Company C, 370th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action
near Viareggio, Italy. Then Second Lieutenant Baker demonstrated
outstanding courage and leadership in destroying enemy installations,
personnel and equipment during his company's attack against a strongly
entrenched enemy in mountainous terrain. When his company was stopped by
the concentration of fire from several machine gun emplacements, he
crawled to one position and destroyed it, killing three Germans.
Continuing forward, he attacked and enemy observation post and killed two
occupants. With the aid of one of his men, Lieutenant Baker attacked two
more machine gun nests, killing or wounding the four enemy soldiers
occupying these positions. He then covered the evacuation of the wounded
personnel of his company by occupying an exposed position and drawing the
enemy's fire. On the following night Lieutenant Baker voluntarily led a
battalion advance through enemy mine fields and heavy fire toward the
division objective. Second Lieutenant Baker's fighting spirit and daring
leadership were an inspiration to his men and exemplify the highest
traditions of the Armed Forces."

-------------------------------------------------

Pro patria,

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the
tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

-- Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.