WW II Hero Vernon Baker

Ferhilt · Sep 12, 2008

Teszler Award: Wofford hails WW II hero Vernon Baker

Teszler Award: Wofford hails WW II hero Vernon Baker | Spartanburg, South Carolina | GoUpstate.com | Spartanburg Herald-Journal

By Gary Glancy
gary.glancy@shj.com

Published: Friday, September 12, 2008 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, September 12, 2008 at 10:14 a.m.

Calling him the "greatest hero you or I will ever meet in our lifetime," Bernie Dunlap's voice choked with emotion as the Wofford College president spoke about Vernon Baker in front of a standing-room-only crowd Thursday in Wofford's Leonard Auditorium.
Mike Bonner/mike.bonner@shj.com
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Wofford College President Benjamin Dunlap presents World War II hero Vernon Baker with an honorary doctor of humanities award Thursday as Wofford Dean David Wood adjusts Baker's hood.
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* Vernon Baker

On the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Dunlap presented Baker, the only living black recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor during World War II, with the college's third annual Sandor Teszler Award for Moral Courage and Service to Humankind to a thunderous standing ovation during Wofford's opening convocation ceremony.

Dunlap and Wofford Dean David Wood also presented Baker, 89, with an honorary doctor of humanities degree, and Spartanburg Mayor Bill Barnet followed by giving Baker a key to the city.

"It is September 11, and we remember that this is a difficult and challenging world," Barnet told the crowd. "But we will always remember our heroes, whether they admit they're heroes or not, and today we honor one."

Before the ceremony, Barnet said, "This man is a real hero. He's a wonderful part of our history, and honoring him on September 11 is a wonderful statement about Wofford and a great reflection on the community. I think the Teszler Award is an opportunity for Wofford to really show its heart."

'I had a job to do'

Dunlap first learned of Baker's story by watching an NBC documentary about Baker that was broadcast during the last Winter Olympics, and then by reading Baker's autobiography, "Lasting Valor."

Baker, a native of Cheyenne, Wyo., who now lives in St. Maries, Idaho, "endured decades of some of the worst this country offered to 20th century black America," Dunlap said.

Baker served in the Army as a lieutenant with the 370th Regiment. On April 5 and 6, 1945, he destroyed four German machine gun nests near Viareggio, Italy, at Castle Aghinolfi, a German mountain strong point on the high ground. He killed nine enemy soldiers with a gun and hand grenades.

His most vivid memories of the war?

"I always, and always will, remember the brave men I left up on that hill," Baker told the Herald-Journal prior to Thursday's ceremony.

He added that he had no fear of dying. "All I wanted to do was do my job," Baker said, "and do it right."

For his service, Baker also earned the Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and the Distinguished Service Cross in addition to the Medal of Honor.

It took more than 50 years, however, before those heroics were recognized.

Baker, because he was black, was never honored for his bravery until 1997 when he and six of his comrades finally received the Medal of Honor from then-President Bill Clinton.

Despite his remarkable service, "I do not consider myself a hero," Baker said. "I had a job to do, and the job was done, but at the cost of some good men's lives."

Many others believe Baker is a hero, including Wofford freshman Bianca Harmon.

"When I heard the story today about him not receiving his honor because he was African-American, that kind of threw me off," said Harmon, who is black. "So the fact that Wofford is doing this for him is really uplifting my spirits about the whole situation, that he's finally getting what he deserves."

With Baker's German wife, Heidy, in attendance Thursday, Baker addressed the students: "Looking out there I see that America has a great future. You that are in this room right now are the future of our country. I am honored to be here and I thank you for everything that you've done, and I hope to see everyone one of you out there do your best."

The Teszler Award, which carries with it a $10,000 gift, honors the late Sandor Teszler, a Jew who came to the Carolinas after he and his family were nearly killed by Nazis during World War II. Teszler, for whom Wofford's library is named, was a friend of the college and a textile businessman who was one of the first to desegregate his mills.

Previous recipients of the award have been Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, in 2006, and Paul Farmer, founding director of the international charity organization Partners in Health, last year.
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liverpool annie · Sep 12, 2008

Ferhilt said: ↑

Teszler Award: Wofford hails WW II hero Vernon Baker

Teszler Award: Wofford hails WW II hero Vernon Baker | Spartanburg, South Carolina | GoUpstate.com | Spartanburg Herald-Journal

By Gary Glancy
gary.glancy@shj.com

Published: Friday, September 12, 2008 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, September 12, 2008 at 10:14 a.m.
Click to expand...

God Bless him ... I remember seeing him on PBS !

I know he was pretty sick for a while ... Congratulations to Vernon on the Teszler Award !!

American Valor . Stories of Valor . Veron Baker | PBS

Annie

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