[Vision2020] WW2 Medal of Honor Recipient Dies

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the Army Times.

 

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WWII MoH recipient dies

 

Vernon Baker, who belatedly received the Medal of Honor for his role in
World War II, died July 13 at his home near St. Maries, Idaho. He was 90.

 

Baker died of complications of brain cancer.

 

He received the nation's highest award for battlefield valor from President
Clinton in 1997. He was one of just seven black soldiers to receive it and
the only living black recipient.

 

In 1944, 2nd Lt. Baker was sent to Italy with a platoon of 54 men. On April
5, he and his soldiers found themselves in behind enemy lines near
Viareggio, Italy.

 

When concentrated enemy fire from several machine gun emplacements stopped
his company's advance, Baker crawled to one and destroyed it, killing three
Germans. Continuing forward, he attacked an enemy observation post and
killed two occupants.

 

With the aid of one of his men, Baker attacked two more machine gun nests,
killing or wounding the four enemy soldiers occupying these positions. Then
he cov-ered the evacuation of his wounded soldiers by occupying an exposed
position and drawing the enemy's fire.

 

On the following night, Baker voluntarily led a bat-talion advance through
mine fields and heavy fire.

 

In all, Baker and his platoon killed 26 Germans and destroyed six machine
gun nests, two observer posts and four dugouts.

 

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Vernon Baker (1945)

 

http://tinyurl.com/Vernon-Baker-1945

 

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Vernon Baker (March 19, 2010)

 

http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2010/07/14/VERNON_BAKER_t620.jpg

 

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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.

 

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