True Honor, Courage... and LOVE

I often read stories and books on military history. It's not because I like war (Robert E. Lee once said "It is well that war is so terrible, lest we should grow too fond of it."), or am fascinated with death, or anything morbid like that. The stories I love best are the ones that actually tell the events surrounding specific individuals or groups of men; stories like those of Ulysses S. Grant throughout the Civil War, or Easy Company of the 506th in WWII. I was recently reading about Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, and one in particular stood out to me: Sergeant Thomas A. Baker, U.S. Army, 105th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division, A Company. According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Sgt. Baker received the award posthumously after multiple acts of selflessness and heroism in protection of his fellow soldiers. The full citation for his service specifically from June 19th through July 7th can be read by clicking the link above, but the day he died is most gripping...

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.

It goes without saying that this man was a courageous soldier. He made a hard choice between his own life and the risk he would be putting on the lives of his fellow men should they try to carry him out. Beyond that, by asking for a pistol, he endeavored to delay the enemy's attack as his brothers retreated, fully knowing it would result in his death. He had the option of pretending to be dead, or surrendering to be taken prisoner, or merely accepting that his injuries would probably ultimately claim his life and just sit and do nothing. I don't know why he did it, and would be careful not to romanticize it too much. Was it courage, honor, and brotherhood, or bloodlust and hatred for the enemy? Or could it have been love for the men he served our country with?

Another man I know, love, and respect for sacrificing himself once said: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." Something that great teacher understood was that the pinnacle act of love is to give your own life so that others may live. No matter Sgt. Baker's reasoning and regardless of his intent, he still displayed such great love for the other men of the 105th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division. I'm thankful we live in a country that honors men such as these, even posthumously, for the sacrifices they make for others. To all soldiers who have once served or still serve our nation, THANK YOU! Even if not everyone can get a Medal of Honor, we should honor all soldiers.

-Scott

P.S. On a side note, I also have to respect Sgt. Baker's remarkable marksmanship skills that, with a short range pistol with an 8-round capacity, he was able to get 8 critically-placed shots off with fatal accuracy while injured and under fire. HOO-RAH!