Thomas Alexander Baker Jr.

Thomas Alexander Baker Jr. did not retreat when the battlefield turned against him. Wounded, surrounded by enemy forces, and with his ammunition exhausted, he made one final decision that would become one of the most extraordinary acts of courage in the history of the United States Army. His name would be remembered among America's highest decorated heroes.

Born in Troy, New York, Thomas Alexander Baker Jr. enlisted in the New York Army National Guard on 8 October 1935 and served with Company A, 105th Infantry Regiment. After separating in October 1938, he returned to the same unit on 15 October 1940, when the regiment was inducted into federal service and assigned to the 27th Infantry Division. His military journey eventually took him across the Pacific to the Mariana Islands during World War II.

By June 1944, Baker was serving with his regiment in the invasion of Saipan. During the fighting beginning on 19 June, he repeatedly demonstrated extraordinary courage under fire. When Japanese machine-gun positions pinned down his company, he voluntarily advanced alone with a bazooka through intense enemy fire, destroying a fortified strongpoint and enabling his fellow soldiers to assault the ridge.

During a subsequent advance, Baker voluntarily protected his company's rear. He discovered two fortified enemy positions that had been bypassed and attacked despite being heavily outnumbered. He subsequently discovered and eliminated six additional Japanese soldiers concealed behind American lines, preventing them from attacking his company from the rear.

His greatest test came during the massive Japanese assault of 7 July 1944. Seriously wounded, Baker refused to abandon his position and continued fighting at extremely close range. His ammunition ran out, and his weapon had been battered in hand-to-hand combat. A fellow soldier attempted to carry him to safety but was also wounded. Baker refused to risk further American lives by being carried farther.

Instead, he asked to be left against a tree with a pistol containing eight rounds. When American forces later recovered his body, the pistol was empty and eight Japanese soldiers lay dead before him.

For his extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, Baker was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor under War Department General Orders No. 35, dated 9 May 1945. His wounds during the fighting were also recognized with the Purple Heart. His recorded service honours include the American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, and World War II Victory Medal.

Baker's sacrifice was also part of a wider regimental achievement. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 105th Infantry Regiment received the Distinguished Unit Citation in 1948, subsequently redesignated the Presidential Unit Citation, for their extraordinary performance during the Japanese assault at Saipan on 7 July 1944. Baker's Company A was among the included units.

Thomas Alexander Baker Jr. represents the courage, determination, and selflessness of the American infantryman during World War II. His final stand on Saipan was not simply an act of personal bravery. It was a last effort to protect the men beside him, even when he knew that his own survival was unlikely. His Medal of Honor citation preserves the details of that sacrifice, ensuring that his name and his extraordinary service will continue to be remembered.