World War II Honoree

Vernon Joseph Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

St. Maries, Idaho

Honored By

James L. Dale

LT. BAKER SERVED IN 370TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 92ND INFANTRY DIVISION. FOR HEROIC ACTION IN BATTLE, HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS. APPROXIMATELY 50 YEARS LATER, THIS AWARD WAS UPGRADED TO THE MEDAL OF HONOR WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO HIM BY PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON ON JANUARY 13, 1997 FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION ON APRIL 5TH AND 6TH, 1945 NEAR VIAREGGIO, ITALY. LT. BAKER DESTROYED ENEMY INSTALLATIONS, PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT DURING HIS COMPANY'S ATTACK AGAINST AN ENTRENCHED ENEMY IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. DESTROYED A MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENT, CONTINUED ON AND ATTACKED AN ENEMY OBSERVATION POST. WITH THE AID OF ANOTHER SOLDIER, HE ATTACKED 2 MORE MACHINE GUN NESTS. COVERED THE EVACUATION OF WOUNDED BY OCCUPYING AN EXPOSED POSITION AND DRAWING ENEMY FIRE. THE NEXT NIGHT, HE LED A BATTALION ADVANCE THROUGH MINE FIELDS AND HEAVY FIRE TO THE DIVISION OBJECTIVE. HIS FIGHTING SPRIT AND LEADERSHIP WERE AN INSPIRATION TO HIS MEN.