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<p class=MsoNormal>Courtesy of the Army Times.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>--------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>WWII MoH recipient dies<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Baker died of complications of brain cancer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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 cov­ered the evacuation of his wounded soldiers by
occupying an exposed position and drawing the enemy’s fire.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>On the following night, Baker voluntarily led a
bat­talion advance through mine fields and heavy fire.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>In all, Baker and his platoon killed 26 Germans and
destroyed six machine gun nests, two observer posts and four dugouts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>----------------<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Vernon Baker (1945)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://tinyurl.com/Vernon-Baker-1945">http://tinyurl.com/Vernon-Baker-1945</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>----------------<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Vernon Baker (March 19, 2010)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a
href="http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2010/07/14/VERNON_BAKER_t620.jpg">http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2010/07/14/VERNON_BAKER_t620.jpg</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>-----------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Pro patria,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Tom Hansen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Moscow, Idaho<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"Patriotism
is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady
dedication of a lifetime."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>-- Adlai E.
Stevenson, Jr.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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