FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Vernon Baker ~ July 26, 2010

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Vernon Baker

(Info found here.)

           

On Saturday, July 13th, another Medal of Honor recipient left us to guard the streets of heaven.  Thank you, sir, for your service to our country.

Vernon Joseph Baker (December 17, 1919 – July 13, 2010) was a United States Army officer who received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II. He was awarded the medal for his actions on April 5–6, 1945 near Viareggio, Italy, when he and his platoon killed 26 enemy soldiers and destroyed six machine gun nests, two observer posts and four dugouts. He was the only living black World War II veteran of the seven belatedly awarded the medal of honor when it was bestowed upon him by President William Jefferson Clinton in 1997.

Early life

Baker was born on December 17, 1919, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the youngest of three children. After his parents died in a car accident when he was four, he and his two sisters were raised by their grandparents. His grandfather Joseph S. Baker, a railroad worker in Cheyenne, taught him to hunt in order to feed the family and became "the most influential figure in Vernon's life." His relationship with his grandmother was much more strained, and he spent a few years at the Boys Town orphanage in Nebraska to be away from her.

Baker graduated from high school in his grandfather's hometown of Clarinda, Iowa. He then worked as a railroad porter, a job he despised, until his grandfather's death from cancer in 1939. A series of menial jobs followed until his enlistment in the U.S. Army in mid-1941. At his first attempt to enlist, in April 1941, he was turned away, the recruiter stating "We don't have any quotas for you people." He tried again weeks later with a different recruiter and was accepted; he requested to become a quartermaster but was instead assigned to the infantry.

 

Military service

Baker entered the Army on June 26, 1941, six months prior to the U.S. entry into World War II. He went through training at Camp Wolters, Texas, and after completing Officer Candidate School was commissioned as a second lieutenant on January 11, 1943.

In June 1944, Baker was sent to Italy with the all-black 92nd Infantry Division. He was wounded in the arm in October of that year, hospitalized near Pisa, and in December rejoined his unit in reserve along the Gothic Line. In early spring, 1945, his unit was pulled from the reserves and placed in active combat. On the morning of April 5, he participated in an attack on the German stronghold of Castle Aghinolfi. During the assault, Baker led his heavy weapons platoon through German defenses to within sight of the castle, personally destroying three machine gun nests, two observation posts, two bunkers, and a network of German telephone lines along the way. It was for these actions that he was later awarded the Medal of Honor.

After the end of the war, Baker remained in Europe with the Allied occupation forces until 1947. He later joined the Army Airborne forces and left the military in 1968 as a first lieutenant.

In 1993, a study commissioned by the U.S. Army described systematic racial discrimination in the criteria for awarding medals during World War II. At the time, no Medals of Honor had been awarded to black soldiers who served in World War II. After an exhaustive review of files, the study recommended that several black Distinguished Service Cross recipients have their awards upgraded to the Medal of Honor. On January 13, 1997, President Bill Clinton awarded the medal to seven African American World War II veterans; Baker was the only recipient still living at the time.

Baker's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism in action on 5 and 6 April 1945, 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 an 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.

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning beach and (((HUGS))) to you too.

No, nothing from Bonnie, but there were some scattered showers yesterday PM.

My computer at home died some time ago and now the wife’s old laptop which I was using also bombed.

[beachn4fun]

I heard about the tornadoes in PA and wondered if they could be heading in your direction. Glad they missed ya.

[SandRat]

Just a Job.

[SandRat]

Nope. the kids are all back for the memorial on Tues as is my brother and SIL so no room for muggings.

[E.G.C.]

((LOL))Yeah, I guess you could he is a little stubborn for his age but, I think it’s catching up to him and he knows it.:-D

[beachn4fun]

but who's counting, right?

LOL...why tanniker is counting.....backwards! LOL

Good morning, Pro ((HUGS)) Glad you had a nice restful weekend.

OUCH! That hurt......you stabbed me with the 80s number. (hehe)

[beachn4fun]

OH no! No computer at home? Do you have the jitters yet? LOL

[beachn4fun]

Ok Chuck, listen up.....

[GodBlessUSA]

LOL
I’m sure if he could he would

They are nuts. Their goal, anything to divide to conquer.

[luvie]

Glad you enjoyed them! The moon was beautiful here last night!

G’mornin’ all you early birds! Only have a minute so just wanted
to say “hi”...See ya!!

[Arrowhead1952]

No, because I had so much other work, it never bothered me at all.

[Tanniker Smith]

but who's counting, right? LOL...why tanniker is counting.....backwards! LOL

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, Beachy!

*HUGS*

Nice to see you this morning!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[beachn4fun]

LOL

Good morning, tanniker ((HUGS))

Enjoying the summer?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, CMN ((HUGS))

Good to see you too!

How was your hot weekend? How much of that storm did you get up your way?

[Tanniker Smith]

So far so good. About to leave for lunch in a moment.

[beachn4fun]

I'm sure you'er gone by now so....

Howdy Luvy ((HUGS)) and

[blackie]

Thanks Kathy!

{{HUGS}}

[beachn4fun]

where you going for lunch?

[ConorMacNessa]

Had a pretty good drenching - lots of traffic signals out. How about doen your way?

Lamh Foistenach Abu!