World War II Honoree

Vernon Joseph Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clarinda, Iowa

Honored By

John Peterson

IN JUNE 1944, HE 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, HE LED HIS HEAVY WEAPONS PLATOON THROUGH GERMAN ARMY 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. HAS BEEN AWARDED THE FOLLOWING: MEDAL OF HONOR, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, CROCE DI GUERRA AL VALOR MILITARE (ITALIAN DECORATION).