FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: John P Baca ~ 01 July 2024

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[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.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Were you able to squeeze in a little nap this afternoon since you woke up so early? :-)

I hope your water situation is straightened out by now.

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

We had a 5th-Sunday morning-only service plus lunch at the building and a short prayer meeting after that, so I got a REAL nap this afternoon. I feel much better, except just being exhausted from the constant heat. It’s still 91. *sigh*

The water is “supposedly” back to normal. We were told that there was a 24-hour boil notice and that time has lapsed. I’ll probably use bottled water to brush my teeth tonight anyway. At least the water looks clear again.

How were things there? Did you ever get even a teensy bit of rain? Was it too hot to get out today?

[radu]

I hadn’t really paid attention to the calendar and didn’t notice there were 5 Sundays this month. The day worked out well for you since you got to take a real nap this afternoon.

Can’t blame ya for giving it another day before feeling comfortable with the water. That it looks clean is a good start. LOL

Not a drop of rain here today. There were showers along the TN/AL state line when I woke up and a couple passed by a few miles away but we were left high and dry here. No rain chances for the next several days. :-(
I don’t know why they had us under a heat advisory. It was hot but it’s been a lot hotter the past week. They SAY tomorrow will be low 80s and that will be NICE. A good day to mow those long grass strips alongside the driveway. No mowing after that for a few days though. Gonna be too hot again. *sigh*

[Kathy in Alaska]

[luvie]

Yeah, get that mowing done while it’s still at least pretending to be comfortable doing it. I guess Champ is all good to go now. No more rocks! LOL!

I hope this is the last of the water main breakage. More wouldn’t surprise me, though. This town is aging and not aging well. We’ve too many folks for the current infrastructure...roads, water pipes, electric sources. Thank goodness we’re still able to produce and use the oil we have under the ground! It at least keeps people employed for the most part.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie...he sure did some quick thinking and saved a bunch of fellow soldiers.

[radu]

Yeah, gotta get it done while the gettin’s good. The nice thing is I’ll be able to do it earlier than I have been and won’t be sitting down with supper at 9:00. LOL
Yes, Champ is running fine now after the repairs. That rock I hit has been out of the way since the day it happened so no worries there.

Not good when the city doesn’t keep up with the load the population puts on the infrastructure. I’ve been a little concerned about it here what with our population increasing the past few years. People escaping blue states. I know some water mains have broken recently because one of my “guardian angels” works for the water dept. That doesn’t affect me because I have a well. But so far, there have been no problems with electricity, even during bad storms, so the power company must be doing their job to keep up with the growth. It’s a pretty good power company. We’re lucky there.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

Yesterday at Comanche Lake:

.

We will do an early trip to the lake today, Heat Advisory.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[luvie]

We have the blue state refugees and then we have the illegals. I don’t know how many, but I’m sure there’s a bunch. We aren’t that far from the border as the crow flies. Actually, some of them are very hard workers. The ones that aren’t terrorists and murderers, that is.

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

I imagine you and Gizmo will be glad when you finally get out from under these heat advisories. Gizmo still has fun but he makes good use of the lake often.
As long as he can find smelly spots to roll in, he’s a happy camper. LOL

[radu]

We have a buttload of illegals too. We’ve had some for years but the numbers have increased drastically. They do work - construction, on farms, landscaping businesses, etc. and aren’t all sponging off us taxpayers. Still don’t belong here though.

I have no idea where they live.

[radu]

We have a buttload of illegals too. We’ve had some for years but the numbers have increased drastically. They do work - construction, on farms, landscaping businesses, etc. and aren’t all sponging off us taxpayers. Still don’t belong here though.

I have no idea where they live.

[luvie]

I’m pretty sure Texas or Tennessee aren’t putting them up at the Ritz. They have to pay their own way, I’m sure....if they have jobs. There are lots of oil field jobs here, too, as well as the ones you named. And I agree. I want them gone. There are citizens here that want jobs and can’t find them because they’ve been taken. Grrr

[radu]

I think some of the churches have been helping them until they can find some place to live but County is certainly not putting them up. In the larger cities, I don’t know.

While I’m here, you have FRmail.

[luvie]

Got it! See ya mañana! My eyes are really burning now. Have a great day tomorrow!

[radu]

Sleep well. Catch ya tomorrow!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Canteen.

Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families.

Hat tip to
John Philip Baca
(born January 10, 1949)
United States Army soldier
Vietnam War veteran.

Thank you, Ma for preparing
the Canteen for today's activities.

Just dropping by to pay my respects.

Can you believe the year is half over already?

Happy Birthday to all July babies.

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

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

REMEMBER THEM ~ 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.

[radu]

Mornin’, beachie! *HUGZ*

Just came in here to shut things down and head to the bat cave. Not long before the sun comes up and I don’t want to end up a pile of ash. LOL

I hope you’ve gotten settled in at your new abode and that you have somewhere picked out for your morning walks.

Have a great day, and stay cool.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning/good night Canteen vamp ((HUGS))

Semi-settled in. Still things to do but livable.

Got one place for walking but it has a lot of hilly areas that we need to get used to.

When things cool down some, we’ll try a walking path in one of the neighborhoods (behind retail stores). And we’ll check out one on the outskirts of Fredericksburg.

Hope you are managing through the crazy heat and drought.
Get to the bat cave.
HUGS

[left that other site]

Goos Morning, Beacie! :-)