FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: SGT John F Baker Jr ~ 23 March 2020

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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

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---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

SGT John F. Baker, Jr.

(Info found here.)

           

John F. Baker, Jr. (October 30, 1945 - January 20, 2012) is a retired United States Army Sergeant who served in the Vietnam War and received the Medal of Honor.

John Baker was born in Davenport, Iowa and attended Moline High School from 1963 to 1966. At only 5’ 1” he was a gymnast before joining the army. His wife thought that gave him the strength and stamina to carry his buddies to safety. He became a “tunnel rat” in Vietnam, a soldier who entered Viet Cong tunnels searching out the enemy and destroying their caches of war material. Baker made the military his career, retiring in 1989. He then began working as a computer analyst at a Veterans Hospital in South Carolina. In addition to serving as the Vice-President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, he serves as a member on the Nation’s Monuments and Cemeteries Committee.

In 2008, the I-280 Bridge, connecting Davenport, Iowa with Rock Island, Illinois, was renamed the Sergeant John F. Baker, Jr., Bridge in honor of Baker.

Baker entered the U.S. Army in Moline, Illinois, serving as a private in A Company, 2nd Battalion of the 27th Infantry, 25th Division. In Vietnam, Baker took part in Operation Attleboro which began in September 1966. On November 5, 1966, Baker and his unit were called to assist another squad who were taking enemy fire. En route, A Company began to take fire and lost their lead soldier. Together with two other soldiers, Baker took over the head of the column and assisted in destroying two enemy positions. They were moving to take two others when a hand grenade knocked Baker off of his feet.

With the two other soldiers wounded, Baker "single handedly" destroyed another bunker before recovering his comrades. Despite taking further fire from enemy bunkers and snipers, Baker continually fell back to replenish ammunition and take back several wounded. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor along with Captain Robert F. Foley, who also received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle. When awarded the citation, President Lyndon B Johnson stated:

“ The battlefield is the scarred and the lonely landscape of man’s greatest failure. But is a place where heroes walk. Today we come here to the East Room of the White House to honor two soldiers, two soldiers who—in the same battle and at the same time—met the surpassing tests of their lives with acts of courage far beyond the call of duty. Captain Foley and Sergeant Baker fought in the same company. Now, together, they join the noblest company of them all. They fought because their Nation believed that only by honoring its commitments, and only by denying aggression its conquest, could the conditions of peace be created in Southeast Asia and the world."

Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Pfc.), U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, November 5, 1966. Entered service at: Moline, Ill. Born: October 30, 1945, Davenport, Iowa.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. En route to assist another unit that was engaged with the enemy, Company A came under intense enemy fire and the lead man was killed instantly. Sgt. Baker immediately moved to the head of the column and together with another soldier knocked out 2 enemy bunkers. When his comrade was mortally wounded, Sgt. Baker, spotting 4 Viet Cong snipers, killed all of them, evacuated the fallen soldier and returned to lead repeated assaults against the enemy positions, killing several more Viet Cong. Moving to attack 2 additional enemy bunkers, he and another soldier drew intense enemy fire and Sgt. Baker was blown from his feet by an enemy grenade. He quickly recovered and single-handedly destroyed 1 bunker before the other soldier was wounded. Seizing his fallen comrade's machine gun, Sgt. Baker charged through the deadly fusillade to silence the other bunker. He evacuated his comrade, replenished his ammunition and returned to the forefront to brave the enemy fire and continue the fight. When the forward element was ordered to withdraw, he carried 1 wounded man to the rear. As he returned to evacuate another soldier, he was taken under fire by snipers, but raced beyond the friendly troops to attack and kill the snipers. After evacuating the wounded man, he returned to cover the deployment of the unit. His ammunition now exhausted, he dragged 2 more of his fallen comrades to the rear. Sgt. Baker's selfless heroism, indomitable fighting spirit, and extraordinary gallantry were directly responsible for saving the lives of several of his comrades, and inflicting serious damage on the enemy. His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

March 23

Reunion

Bible in a Year:

• Joshua 13–15
• Luke 1:57–80

Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people.

Revelation 21:3

The little boy excitedly ripped open a big box from his serviceman daddy, whom he believed wouldn’t be home to celebrate his birthday. Inside that box was yet another giftwrapped box, and inside that box was another that simply held a piece of paper saying, “Surprise!” Confused, the boy looked up—just as his dad entered the room. Tearfully the son leapt into his father’s arms, exclaiming, “Daddy, I missed you” and “I love you!”

That tearful yet joyful reunion captures the heart of Revelation 21’s description of the glorious moment when God’s children see their loving Father face to face—in the fully renewed and restored creation. There, “[God] will wipe every tear from [our] eyes.” No longer will we experience pain or sorrow, because we’ll be with our heavenly Father. As the “loud voice” in Revelation 21 declares, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them” (vv. 3–4).

There’s a tender love and joy that followers of Jesus already enjoy with God, as 1 Peter 1:8 describes: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” Yet imagine our incredible, overflowing joy when we see the one we’ve loved and longed for welcoming us into His open arms!

By:  Alyson Kieda

Reflect & Pray

What do you most look forward to about life in God’s presence in the restored creation? How do you experience glimpses of that joy now?

Loving God, we anticipate with joy the day when we will be with You. Until then, help us to happily serve You as we wait.

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: SGT John F Baker Jr ~

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[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, May, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Hope you’ve got some good rest.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...hope you and Penny are enjoying your down time.

I have to run to the office before I can’t. Back in an hour or so.

[The Mayor]

Thanks Kathy! We have been sorting things for moving.
Finding gems and junk so we save the gems and disgard the junk.
6 years in this place, no junk comes with us
After all the kids are gone now.

[left that other site]

It was too chilly to walk much today, but we cuddled a lot indoors.

All the crocuses and daffodils are coming up. I hope they don’t freeze tonight.

[PROCON]

Incredible heroism in the face of all the odds, I am in awe of these Heroes.

Thank you and RIP SGT Baker!

[left that other site]

I am turning in early tonight, so HUGS to all and see you tomorrow.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I will be faced with that when I retire...moving out of state. Let me know if you find a good secret to sorting. LOL!

[The Mayor]

Nothing is easy about it, if you haven’t used it for a year throw it! :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and sleep tight!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

THANK YOU
for your service!

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

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

THANK YOU
for your service!”

You are quite welcome, dear! I would do it again! ;-)

[radu]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sounds like a good plan. Lots of boxes for sorting.

[mylife]

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=big+dipper+band+heavens+full&ru=%2fvideos%2fsearch%3fq%3dbig%2520dipper%2520band%2520heavens%2520full%26qs%3dn%26form%3dQBVRMH%26sp%3d-1%26pq%3dbig%2520dipper%2520band%2520heavens%2520full%26sc%3d0-28%26sk%3d%26cvid%3dFAB17696B4E644ECB8DC18F6133CDBA8&view=detail&mid=0F08805534D03A41F3710F08805534D03A41F371&&FORM=VDRVRV

[real saxophonist]

That is a great picture.

[luvie]

🇺🇸 John F. Baker, Jr. 🇺🇸
October 30, 1945 - January 20, 2012
Retired United States Army Sergeant
Served in the Vietnam War
Received the Medal of Honor.