John F. Baker Jr.: Acts of Valor in Combat

While en route to assist another unit under heavy enemy attack, Company A came under intense enemy fire, resulting in the instant death of the lead soldier. Without hesitation, Sergeant John F. Baker Jr. moved to the front of the column and, alongside another soldier, destroyed two enemy bunkers. When his comrade was mortally wounded, Baker identified and eliminated four Viet Cong snipers, evacuated his fallen comrade, and returned to lead multiple assaults on enemy positions, killing several more Viet Cong soldiers.

As Baker advanced to attack two additional enemy bunkers, he and another soldier faced intense fire, and an enemy grenade knocked Baker off his feet. Undeterred, he quickly recovered, destroyed one bunker single-handedly, and seized his wounded comrade's machine gun to neutralize the second bunker. Despite the relentless enemy fire, Baker evacuated his injured comrade, replenished his ammunition, and returned to the front lines to continue the fight.

When the forward element was ordered to withdraw, Baker carried one wounded soldier to safety. As he went back to retrieve another, snipers opened fire on him. Ignoring the danger, he advanced beyond friendly lines, killed the snipers, evacuated the second soldier, and then covered the unit's withdrawal. With his ammunition depleted, Baker dragged two more fallen comrades to safety.

For his extraordinary courage, selflessness, and unwavering determination in the face of overwhelming odds, Sergeant John F. Baker Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor.