Vernon J. Baker: One more time in the sun

Just got word that NBC is going to broadcast a documentary on Sunday that features Vernon J. Baker , the St. Maries resident who is the focus of the biography “Lasting Valor.”

Written by former Spokesman-Review reporter Ken Olsen, “Lasting Valor” – which is being reissued by Bantam Books – tells the story of then-Lt. Baker’s service in World War II as part of the all-black 92nd Infantry Division .

Baker was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for leading an assault on a heavily defended and important mountain position . The success of that mission helped break the German army’s hold in northern Italy, though 19 of Baker’s company were killed in the action.

In 1997, after charges were raised that Baker and the 92nd had been the target of racism by its white officers, Baker was awarded the Medal of Honor. I asked Olsen by e-mail whether there had ever been a rebuttal to the racism charges. It seemed only natural that someone would offer up some sort of excuse for such an obvious injustice.

Here is what he replied:

“There hasn’t been any credible rebuttal to the charges of racism in World War II regarding black soldiers. There were rumors they were afraid to fight at night, fled under fire, etc. that may have been an outgrowth of a disproven report from World War I.

“However, the Army has long acknowledged that the after-action reports and other documents were altered by officers and commanders to discount the courage and sacrifice of black soldiers during World War II. History had made it clear that putting white Southerners in charge of black soldiers created this disaster.

“It’s worth noting that black soldiers earned the Medal of Honor in every major conflict from the Civil War (when the medal was created) through today, except for World War II. Black soldiers helped Teddy Roosevelt make his successful charge up San Juan Hill and, posthumously, earn his own Medal of Honor. Finally, black soldiers had the lowest alcoholism rate and the lowest desertion rate of any units posted on the Western frontier.

“Thanks for plugging the show. Don’t forget to click on lastingvalor.com for the free beer.”

That last line is Olsen’s attempt at humor. You should check out the site, though. It’s a bit of living history.

Below: Tom Brokaw interviews Vernon J. Baker, the subject of Ken Olsen’s book “Lasting Valor,” in a segment of a show to be broadcast on Sunday.

NBC News