FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: John P Baca ~ 11 May 2026

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[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.

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[Red Badger]

Any kin to Chew Baca?..... 😏

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Golden Eagle]

Great post, and story, I really enjoyed reading. He sounds like the epitome of a righteous man, who was called to serve, and did so with honor. As the great philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once stated, “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.”

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...we are having actual rain and puddles!

My computer decided to freeze and I had to reboot and find all my stuff again.

Any rain for you?

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: John P Baca ~

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[ExTexasRedhead]

At 98...He Flew Again

Tom Rice, 101st Airborne Division 1921 - 2022

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sirmWYGdK14https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sirmWYGdK14

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Red Badger....I think a distant cousin, several times removed.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...now it’s raining here.

Did you and Tippy get out in the rain?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Golden Eagle...glad you enjoyed “meeting” John
Baca and reading his story.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

I’m watching Barry’s show and hadn’t checked on your weather recently. Wow! Those are big raindrops! They look like snowflakes! Keep it comin’!

They said our rain would get over here early tomorrow morning but unless it falls apart, it’ll be here a LOT sooner than that.
We had a hot sunny day today.

Darn computer! It should know better than to freeze on you. At least you got everything going again.

[PROCON]

Thanks for tonight's Canteen and for honoring this Hero, Kathy!

Lazy weekend my way but lovely weather, hope all is well your way!

[left that other site]

Rain or Shine, Tippy needs her walks.

the morning started out rainy, but got nicer as the day wore on.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to go riding tomorrow.

[luvie]

John Philip Baca
B. January 10, 1949, Providence, Rhode Island.
Former United States Army soldier
....and a Vietnam War veteran.
Medal of Honor Recipient
...for his actions in combat.

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.
What a hero he is.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Glad to see you back!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[PROCON]

[Kathy in Alaska]

And 30 minutes later it is still coming down...my phone (unreliable) says maybe another hour of good rain.