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! 

[BIGLOOK]

I know you've got power.....otherwise you wouldn't be here!

[oldteen]

My hat is off to you (I don’t wear one but you know what I mean) cuz there isn’t that many years between us and I’m already a great-grandma! I just spoil them and send them home...hehehe!

[ConorMacNessa]

It's all a question of how long that little doggie can keep running on his little treadmill.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[ConorMacNessa]

How old are yours, Pro? I have 14, 16 and 19 year olds still at home.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[ConorMacNessa]

REST IN PEACE, FALLEN BROTHER!

Premierløjtnant Jonas Peter Pløger, Charlie-kompagniet, der hører til Gardehusarregimentet, Royal Danish Army, KIA Afghanistan 21JUL2010



I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)

Flowers of the Forest



Black Watch Piper

Rest in Peace, fallen brother, rest in peace!
We who remain hold you in high honor.
Rest, fallen brother, in this sacred precinct;
We who remain keep this place sacred.
Rest, fallen brother, among these, your comrades;
We who remain keep the watch.
Rest, fallen brother, among these who answered the Nation’s call;
We who remain press the fight forward in your name.
Rest, fallen brother, lay down thy burden;
We who remain have taken up the torch.
Rest in Peace, fallen brother, rest in eternal peace!



Last Post

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Nana Hope, for today's Pledge. Thanks, AfghanMan and Penguin Girl, for your service to America.

[oldteen]

Talk about a real trooper! I worry about a back injury tho. That is something if not taken care of can be with him for a very long time! Please give him my thanks for his service and hope it is something he can self heal. Prayers for him!

[luvie]

Thanks for the great thread...and a wonderful story about
an American hero!

There are so many...God bless them all....and rest the souls
of the fallen ones!

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Luv!

*HUGS*

Great to see you this evening!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[oldteen]

14, 16 and 19

Whoa...bless you both!

[MountainDad]

I will. Thanks!

[oldteen]

Howdy LUVVY! How U B? *hugs*

[luvie]

Howdy, Conor! (((hugs)))

Good to see you, too! It’s good to be home...back in the land
of high-speed wireless! LOL!

[ConorMacNessa]

Hope you had a nice trip!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[ConorMacNessa]

REST IN PEACE, FALLEN BROTHER!

Pfc. James J. Oquin, USA, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Died Afghanistan 23JUL2010

I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)

God Of Our Fathers



Rest in Peace, fallen brother, rest in peace!
We who remain hold you in high honor.
Rest, fallen brother, in this sacred precinct;
We who remain keep this place sacred.
Rest, fallen brother, among these, your comrades;
We who remain keep the watch.
Rest, fallen brother, among these who answered the Nation’s call;
We who remain press the fight forward in your name.
Rest, fallen brother, lay down thy burden;
We who remain have taken up the torch.
Rest in Peace, fallen brother, rest in eternal peace!



Taps

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[oldteen]

Lot of traffic lights out

Well, that's one thing we don't have to worry about. No traffic lights in this little town. And, coming in on either end of town, if you're going all the way thru, no stop sign either :)

[Thunder 6]

Good hunting on Fiddler’s Green Premierløjtnant Pløger. You are mission complete here.

regards,

[oldteen]

Did ya get some R&R?

[ConorMacNessa]

Hi Thunder - nice to see you and thanks for the kind words.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[luvie]

It was very nice. I go see my last remaining aunt and uncle
whenever I have the chance...and that chance came this weekend.

They live waaaaaay out in the country and it was so wonderfully
quiet and peaceful. Nothing stirring but the critters. LOL!