Our thoughts and prayers go out to Cliff Rogers and family.
IDAHO Service Benefits Officers
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VERNON BAKER - A True American Hero
Few African American soldiers honored for their bravery: On April 5, 1945, Second Lieutenant Vernon Baker's company was pinned down while attacking a German position near Viareggio, Italy. Baker crawled forward and destroyed four machine gun nests, killing nine Germans. For this action, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Since he was African American, however, it took the military 52 years to award it. More than 1.2 million African Americans served in the war, but few received battlefield decorations and none were awarded the Medal of Honor until January 13, 1997, when seven African Americans received it from President Bill Clinton. The 77-year-old Baker was the only one still living.
Vernon Baker left us on July 14th, 2010, gone but not forgotten.
Obituary: http://www.krem.com/news/national/98434099.html