Medal of Honor

Vernon "rubber cat" Baker, Cheyenne, Wyo.
First lieutenant, Army
April 5-6, 1945, Italy, World War II

During an assault on a German mountain strong point, he single-handedly attacked concealed enemy positions, eliminating three machine-gun positions, an observation post and a dugout, killing nine enemy soldiers. The next night, he voluntarily led a battalion advance through enemy mine fields and heavy fire toward the division's objective.