Obit watch: January 31, 2012.

Master Sergeant John Franklin Baker Jr. (United States Army -ret.)

In November of 1966, then Private Baker’s company was tasked with rescuing another company that was pinned down by Viet Cong troops.

As the company began its rescue effort, the lead man in Private Baker’s column was killed. Moving forward, Private Baker took part in knocking out two enemy bunkers, killed four Viet Cong snipers and then led repeated assaults, killing more Viet Cong. During his forays, he grabbed wounded soldiers and took them to safety. At one point he was knocked off his feet by a grenade.

In addition to saving the lives of eight comrades, he was credited with knocking out six Viet Cong machine-gun bunkers, killing 10 enemy soldiers.

Baker was promoted to sergeant, and received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

In his later years, Mr. Baker volunteered to help ease the transition out of combat for service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, including those hospitalized in Germany.

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