

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