Black Soldier Not Angry Over Long-Delayed Honor

Vernon Baker is not bitter that, because of his color, it has taken half a century for him to receive his nation’s top military honor for heroism under fire.

“I used to be an angry young man, but I’m not angry anymore,” said the 77-year-old retired Army officer from St. Maries, Idaho.

Baker will finally receive the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony today, making him the only living black man to receive it for service in World War II. Six other black soldiers will be awarded the medal posthumously.

Although 1.7 million black Americans served in World War II, they did not receive a single one of the 432 Medals of Honor awarded.

A team of military historians concluded that segregation and racism were the reasons, and it singled out the seven men. An Army Senior Officer Awards Board recommended they get the medal.

Baker was a member of the Army’s all-black 92nd Infantry. After the invasion of Italy, the 92nd stalled with the 5th Army along the Gothic Line.

Baker, then a lieutenant, and his platoon of 25 men were ordered on April 5, 1945, to lead the fight for a German stronghold.

Baker destroyed three German machine-gun nests, a bunker and an artillery observation post and shot several other German soldiers.

As Baker and his white company commander, Capt. John F. Runyon, made plans to storm the stronghold, enemy artillery shells began to rain down on them.

Runyon left with their radioman to get reinforcements, leaving Baker and the rest of the soldiers to face enemy attacks.

When it was clear reinforcements were not coming, Baker ordered the seven survivors to retreat, and on their way back he used grenades to destroy two more enemy machine-gun nests.