Medal of Honor: John P. Baca – U.S. Army – Vietnam War

Name: John P. Baca
Rank: Specialist Fourth Class
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company D, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Place: Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Fort Ord, California
Born: 10 January 1949, Providence, Rhode Island

Summary of Action

During a night ambush mission in Phuoc Long Province, a platoon from Company D moved forward to investigate the detonation of an automatic ambush device and was suddenly met with intense enemy fire from concealed positions along a jungle trail.

Hearing the heavy firing and realizing that the besieged patrol required immediate support, Specialist Fourth Class John P. Baca led his recoilless rifle team through a hail of enemy fire to a firing position within the patrol’s defensive perimeter. As the team prepared to engage the enemy, a fragmentation grenade was thrown into the midst of the patrol.

Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety, Sp4c. Baca covered the grenade with his steel helmet and threw himself upon it as it exploded, absorbing the lethal fragments and concussion with his body and saving the lives of the men around him.

Medal of Honor Citation

BACA, JOHN P.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Baca, Company D, distinguished himself while serving on a recoilless rifle team during a night ambush mission. A platoon from his company was sent to investigate the detonation of an automatic ambush device forward of his unit's main position and soon came under intense enemy fire from concealed positions along the trail. Hearing the heavy firing from the platoon position and realizing that his recoilless rifle team could assist the members of the besieged patrol, Sp4c. Baca led his team through the hail of enemy fire to a firing position within the patrol's defensive perimeter. As they prepared to engage the enemy, a fragmentation grenade was thrown into the midst of the patrol. Fully aware of the danger to his comrades, Sp4c. Baca unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his own safety, covered the grenade with his steel helmet and fell on it as the grenade exploded, thereby absorbing the lethal fragments and concussion with his body. His gallant action and total disregard for his personal well-being directly saved 8 men from certain serious injury or death. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Sp4c. Baca, at the risk of his life, are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.