Thomas A. Baker – Medal of Honor, July 7, 1944, Battle of Saipan

Name: Thomas A. Baker
Rank: Sergeant
Conflict: World War II
Unit: Company A, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, U.S. Army
Date of Action: June 19 – July 7, 1944
Location: Saipan, Mariana Islands

Summary of Action:
Thomas A. Baker was a one-man army in the battle for Saipan. During a brutal campaign against entrenched Japanese forces, Baker repeatedly put himself in harm’s way to protect his fellow soldiers. When his company was stalled by withering enemy fire, Baker charged forward alone with a bazooka and destroyed a key stronghold, allowing his unit to advance. In another moment of selfless courage, he intercepted and eliminated multiple enemy soldiers who had infiltrated behind American lines, often engaging them at point-blank range.

On July 7, during a massive enemy banzai charge, Baker—now seriously wounded—refused evacuation and continued fighting from the line. Even after exhausting all ammunition and smashing his weapon in hand-to-hand combat, he declined to be carried further by his comrades, unwilling to endanger another soldier’s life. As a final act of resolve, he asked to be propped against a tree with a loaded pistol. He was later found at that spot, his empty pistol in hand, surrounded by eight dead Japanese soldiers—each a testament to his unflinching stand. Sergeant Baker died exactly as he had fought: with honor, grit, and absolute devotion to his brothers-in-arms.

Citation:
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.