World War II Honoree

Vernon Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

St. Maries, Idaho

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

JOINED THE ARMY IN 1941 AND WAS SENT TO CAMP WOLTERS, TEXAS FOR BASIC TRAINING. SHOWED LEADERSHIP ABILITY AND WAS SENT TO (OCS) OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL IN 1942 GRADUATING A 2ND LIEUTENANT. ON APRIL 5, 1945 HE WAS LEADING 25 BLACK INFANTRYMEN THROUGH A MAZE OF GERMAN BUNKERS AND MACHINE GUN NESTS NEAR VIAREGGIO, ITALY. THE NEXT NIGHT HE VOLUNTARILY LED A BATTALION ADVANCE THROUGH ENEMY MINEFIELDS AND HEAVY FIRE. RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR, AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS. FIFTY-TWO YEARS LATER HE WAS ONE OF SEVEN BLACK SERVICEMEN AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR BY PRESIDENT CLINTON, ON JANUARY 13, 1997.