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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Baker, Vernon Joseph |
| Date of birth: | December 17th, 1919 (Cheyenne/Wyoming, United States)
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| Date of death: |
July 13th, 2010 (St. Maries/Idaho, United States)
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| Nationality: |
American |
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MEDAL OF HONOR - ARMY (MOH)
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Rank:
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2nd Lieutenant (Second Lieutenant)
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Unit:
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Company C, 370th Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division "Buffalo Soldiers", U.S. Army
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Awarded on:
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January 13th, 1997
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Action:
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Citation:
"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 and 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."
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Provide alterations or additional information |
| Picture source: |
- Home of Heroes
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| Information source(s): |
- Gibran, D.K., The 92th Infantry Division and the Italian Campaign in World War II, McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina, USA, 2001
- Hargrove, H.B., Buffalo Soldiers in Italy: Black Americans in World War II, McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina, USA, 2003
- www.army.mil
- Wikipedia
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