FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: John P Baca ~ July 9, 2012

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

John P. Baca

 

           

John Philip Baca (born January 10, 1949) is a former United States Army soldier and a Vietnam War veteran. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest decoration of the United States Armed Forces, for his actions in combat.

Baca was born on January 10, 1949, in Providence, Rhode Island. He was raised in San Diego, California. Baca was a troubled boy who was often arrested and ran into trouble with the law. After he had been released from the California Youth Authority in late 1966, he tried to enlist in the United States Army, however he could not because he was still on parole.

Baca was drafted into the United States Army on June 10, 1968.

By February 10, 1970, he was stationed in Vietnam as a Specialist Four with Company D of the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On that day, in Phuoc Long Province, he was serving on a recoilless rifle team when the lead platoon of his company was ambushed. Baca led his team forward through intense fire to reach the besieged platoon. When a fragmentation grenade was tossed into their midst, he "unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his own safety," covered it with his helmet and then laid his body over the helmet, smothering the blast and saving eight fellow soldiers from severe injury or death.

Baca survived his wounds and was formally awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon on March 2, 1971. Two other soldiers in Company D, Allen J. Lynch and Rodney J. Evans, had previously earned the medal.

In 1990, Baca returned to Vietnam with ten other soldiers of the Veterans Vietnam Restoration Project. The group spent eight weeks working alongside former North Vietnamese Army soldiers building a health clinic in a village north of Hanoi.

Baca rarely speaks publicly about the events for which he was awarded the medal. However, he prefers to recall an event that occurred on Christmas Day, 1969. He was walking ahead of his unit, acting as "point," when he surprised a young North Vietnamese soldier sitting alone on top of an enemy bunker in the jungle. He saw that the soldier could not reach his rifle quickly and, not wanting to shoot him, yelled in Vietnamese for him to surrender. Not only was he able to take his "Christmas gift" alive and unharmed, the young man, twenty years later, was among the Vietnamese that Baca worked with building the clinic in 1990.

Baca remains active in social causes, particularly related to Vietnam veterans issues and the plight of the homeless.

In 2002, a park was named in his honor in Huntington Beach, California. At the park's dedication on April 27, John read the following poem he penned for the occasion:

“It's a playground for the young, a walk for the dog,

These grounds will be blessed by the rain and the sun, free from the smog.

A refuge for the birds vacationing south, "Let's visit Baca's Park."

Soon it won't be long for all to enjoy their song! My buddies and friends have joined me for this delight.

Some unknown evenings I may be sitting upon my bench enjoying the quiet of the night.

What is a park? A site of beauty, a place to rest.

A place to stay, leave one's worries, also leave behind their stress of the day.

A solitude visitor can be still, enjoy the quiet of their thought.

One can hear the voices in the breeze, trees are clapping their hands, with the movement of the leaves.

All humanity can find a space. All are welcomed to a safe, you might say sacred place.

These grounds will be a witness for families, lovers and friends who picnic, play, hold hands and maybe embrace.

It will be filled with harmony and song and the smile of God's grace.

One last thing before I depart and be on my way,

I sat on the bench and a swing in the park that was dedicated in my honor and in my name on this beautiful day. ”

—John Philip Baca

 

Baca's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Baca, Company D, distinguished himself while serving on a recoilless rifle team during a night ambush mission. A platoon from his company was sent to investigate the detonation of an automatic ambush device forward of his unit's main position and soon came under intense enemy fire from concealed positions along the trail. Hearing the heavy firing from the platoon position and realizing that his recoilless rifle team could assist the members of the besieged patrol, Sp4c. Baca led his team through the hail of enemy fire to a firing position within the patrol's defensive perimeter. As they prepared to engage the enemy, a fragmentation grenade was thrown into the midst of the patrol. Fully aware of the danger to his comrades, Sp4c. Baca unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his own safety, covered the grenade with his steel helmet and fell on it as the grenade exploded, thereby absorbing the lethal fragments and concussion with his body. His gallant action and total disregard for his personal well-being directly saved 8 men from certain serious injury or death. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Sp4c. Baca, at the risk of his life, are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Please remember, the Canteen is family friendly and we exist to support and honor our troops and their families, as well as our Allies Troops and theirs.  Thank you to every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman out there for doing what you do to keep us safe.  We are ever in your debt.  And thank you, too, to the families and friends who support them.  God bless our troops.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Monday morning, E...((HUGS))...hope you and Bo got some lake time this weekend. Have a good Monday.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Aloha, Hawaii...((HUGS))...hope son and the little wahines are back to good health. Happy Monday!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, JMJJR...thank you so much for adding your pictures and experiences to help honor John Baca.

What a great patch to honor him.

StarCMC did a terrific job of researching/writing this story of one of our heroes.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, mountainlion....a real hero.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul. Have a great Monday. ((HUGS))

[Kathy in Alaska]

What a great poem!! Freedom is NOT free!!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Canteen.

Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families.

THANK YOU for all you do.

Thank you, Star, for preparing the Canteen for today’s activities.
KUDOS and thank you go out to John Philip Baca for his service and sacrifice.

DC Metroland weather report

~ Today...Widespread showers
and scattered thunderstorms this morning...
Then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon.
Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Chance of rain 90 percent.

~ Tonight...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s.
East winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

We got some much needed rain,
with a chance for more all week.
When the rain moved into the area yesterday afternoon
temps dropped 20 degrees right off...from 101 down to 81.
What a relief!

I'm back in the office this morning.
Lots of work to catch up on
so I'll be moving into the lurker mode in a few minutes.
And will be back around lunchtime to catch up with everyone.

But please stay right where you are.
Chat up the military or a family member.
No need to fret...you know I'll be back!

The FR Canteen is

Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM

ACKLEY, JAMES H
MIA
3/7/1973

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

[beachn4fun]

50?

[beachn4fun]

50?

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Tomkow6.

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach, LUV W.

How's it going?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, EG ((HUGS))

Going ok. Getting some reports printed off and eating breakfast.

Howz it out your way?

[tomkow6]

 

 

 

 

 Good morning,

EVERYBODY!

GOOD

MORNING

TROOPS!

 

Cubs

33 WINS

52  LOSSES

 

 

How can there be self-help "groups"?  
 

 

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen. We had just at one inch of rain since it started.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning beachy and (((HUGS))) to you.

[E.G.C.]

It's going OK here. Some parts of Oklahoma getting some much needed rain.Always AWESOME to watch the radar filled with rain this time of year.

Also watching to see if everyone is checking their computers for the DNS Changer malware. I checked both my computers and they both came out OK. Those servers with the malware are gonna shut down at 11:01 PM CDT tonight.

Tomrrow is Patch Tuesday for Windows. A few updates are due to be available for download tomorrow.

Bo and I have been spending some time out at the lake. Having a great time.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, dear ((HUGS))

[beachn4fun]

Thanks for the reminder on the malware. Have to remind hubby to check the HP.

[luvie]

I checked mine and they’re all right, too! Whew! Glad you and Bo got to romp at the lake and that you got rain! We got
a tease of rain. Phooey! :)

[PROCON]

Morning Beachie!!

The left coast is back to typical summer weather with mid-80's the forecast.

We have a local rodeo here in this small town which draws a lot of folks, gonna do that this weekend!

Well, better hit the coffee pot, have a funtacious day1