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Thomas Alexander Baker (June 25, 1916 – July 7, 1944) was a United States Army soldier who posthumously received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II during the Battle of Saipan.
Baker was born in 1916 in Troy, New York and joined the U.S. Army after graduating from high school. After Army basic training he was sent to fight in World War II. While serving as a member of the 27th Infantry Division he was injured and refused to be evacuated. He was later found dead with an empty pistol and the bodies of eight Japanese soldiers around him.
Baker was born in 1916 in Troy, New York and joined the U.S. Army after graduating from high school. After Army basic training he was sent to fight in World War II. While serving as a member of the 27th Infantry Division he was injured and refused to be evacuated. He was later found dead with an empty pistol and the bodies of eight Japanese soldiers around him.
Thomas Baker (Medal of Honor) - Wikipedia
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Thomas A. Baker - WHAT A HERO!| Medal of Honor Monday
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Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that June 25 is the anniversary of the birth of United States Army soldier Thomas Alexander Baker who posthumously received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II during the Battle of Saipan.
Thomas A. Baker - WHAT A HERO!| Medal of Honor Monday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2o1_w0aIwQ
Background from
Date of birth: June 25th, 1916 (Troy/New York, United States)
Date of death: July 12th, 1944 (Saipan, Mariana Islands)
Thomas Alexander Baker was born on June 25th, 1916 in Troy, New York. He enlisted in the United States Army in his hometown. He was killed in action on July 12th, 1944 after refusing to be evacuated when he was wounded. His body was later recovered with eight dead Japanese laying around him.Thomas Alexander Baker was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. He was buried at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, New York.
Period: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division "New York", U.S. Army
Awarded on: May 9th, 1945
Action:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Saipan, Mariana Islands, 19 June to 7 July 1944. When his entire company was held up by fire from automatic weapons and small-arms fire from strongly fortified enemy positions that commanded the view of the company, Sgt. (then Pvt.) Baker voluntarily took a bazooka and dashed alone to within 100 yards of the enemy. Through heavy rifle and machinegun fire that was directed at him by the enemy, he knocked out the strong point, enabling his company to assault the ridge. Some days later while his company advanced across the open field flanked with obstructions and places of concealment for the enemy, Sgt. Baker again voluntarily took up a position in the rear to protect the company against surprise attack and came upon 2 heavily fortified enemy pockets manned by 2 officers and 10 enlisted men which had been bypassed. Without regard for such superior numbers, he unhesitatingly attacked and killed all of them. Five hundred yards farther, he discovered 6 men of the enemy who had concealed themselves behind our lines and destroyed all of them. On 7 July 1944, the perimeter of which Sgt. Baker was a part was attacked from 3 sides by from 3,000 to 5,000 Japanese. During the early stages of this attack, Sgt. Baker was seriously wounded but he insisted on remaining in the line and fired at the enemy at ranges sometimes as close as 5 yards until his ammunition ran out. Without ammunition and with his own weapon battered to uselessness from hand-to-hand combat, he was carried about 50 yards to the rear by a comrade, who was then himself wounded. At this point Sgt. Baker refused to be moved any farther stating that he preferred to be left to die rather than risk the lives of any more of his friends. A short time later, at his request, he was placed in a sitting position against a small tree . Another comrade, withdrawing, offered assistance. Sgt. Baker refused, insisting that he be left alone and be given a soldier's pistol with its remaining 8 rounds of ammunition. When last seen alive, Sgt. Baker was propped against a tree, pistol in hand, calmly facing the foe. Later Sgt. Baker's body was found in the same position, gun empty, with 8 Japanese lying dead before him. His deeds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army."
Details: Awarded posthumously.
General Order No.: 35, May 9th, 1945."
FYI LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj Robert Thornton CPT Scott Sharon SSG William Jones SSG Donald H "Don" Bates PO3 William Hetrick PO3 Lynn Spalding SPC Mark Huddleston SGT Rick Colburn CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke SP5 Jeannie Carle SCPO Morris Ramsey Sgt Albert Castro
Thomas A. Baker - WHAT A HERO!| Medal of Honor Monday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2o1_w0aIwQ
Background from
Date of birth: June 25th, 1916 (Troy/New York, United States)
Date of death: July 12th, 1944 (Saipan, Mariana Islands)
Thomas Alexander Baker was born on June 25th, 1916 in Troy, New York. He enlisted in the United States Army in his hometown. He was killed in action on July 12th, 1944 after refusing to be evacuated when he was wounded. His body was later recovered with eight dead Japanese laying around him.Thomas Alexander Baker was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. He was buried at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, New York.
Period: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division "New York", U.S. Army
Awarded on: May 9th, 1945
Action:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Saipan, Mariana Islands, 19 June to 7 July 1944. When his entire company was held up by fire from automatic weapons and small-arms fire from strongly fortified enemy positions that commanded the view of the company, Sgt. (then Pvt.) Baker voluntarily took a bazooka and dashed alone to within 100 yards of the enemy. Through heavy rifle and machinegun fire that was directed at him by the enemy, he knocked out the strong point, enabling his company to assault the ridge. Some days later while his company advanced across the open field flanked with obstructions and places of concealment for the enemy, Sgt. Baker again voluntarily took up a position in the rear to protect the company against surprise attack and came upon 2 heavily fortified enemy pockets manned by 2 officers and 10 enlisted men which had been bypassed. Without regard for such superior numbers, he unhesitatingly attacked and killed all of them. Five hundred yards farther, he discovered 6 men of the enemy who had concealed themselves behind our lines and destroyed all of them. On 7 July 1944, the perimeter of which Sgt. Baker was a part was attacked from 3 sides by from 3,000 to 5,000 Japanese. During the early stages of this attack, Sgt. Baker was seriously wounded but he insisted on remaining in the line and fired at the enemy at ranges sometimes as close as 5 yards until his ammunition ran out. Without ammunition and with his own weapon battered to uselessness from hand-to-hand combat, he was carried about 50 yards to the rear by a comrade, who was then himself wounded. At this point Sgt. Baker refused to be moved any farther stating that he preferred to be left to die rather than risk the lives of any more of his friends. A short time later, at his request, he was placed in a sitting position against a small tree . Another comrade, withdrawing, offered assistance. Sgt. Baker refused, insisting that he be left alone and be given a soldier's pistol with its remaining 8 rounds of ammunition. When last seen alive, Sgt. Baker was propped against a tree, pistol in hand, calmly facing the foe. Later Sgt. Baker's body was found in the same position, gun empty, with 8 Japanese lying dead before him. His deeds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army."
Details: Awarded posthumously.
General Order No.: 35, May 9th, 1945."
FYI LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj Robert Thornton CPT Scott Sharon SSG William Jones SSG Donald H "Don" Bates PO3 William Hetrick PO3 Lynn Spalding SPC Mark Huddleston SGT Rick Colburn CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke SP5 Jeannie Carle SCPO Morris Ramsey Sgt Albert Castro
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