We thought it would be nice to put these caches out for Veterans
Day, so we chose 100 of the 246 Medal of Honor Recipients from the
Vietnam War, and each one of the caches will honor one of these
American Heroes. Of the 246 MOH Recipients from the Vietnam War 63%
were awarded posthumously. ( ** Represents MOH Awarded
Posthumously) Please take the time to read the citation for each
and remember them this Veterans Day.
HAVE FUN!!
John Philip Baca
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army,
Company D, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Place
and date: Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam, 10 February
1970. Entered service at: Fort Ord, Calif. Born: 10 January 1949,
Providence, R.I.. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty. Sp4c. Baca, Company D, distinguished himself while
serving on a recoilless rifle team during a night ambush mission A
platoon from his company was sent to investigate the detonation of
an automatic ambush device forward of his unit's main position and
soon came under intense enemy fire from concealed positions along
the trail. Hearing the heavy firing from the platoon position and
realizing that his recoilless rifle team could assist the members
of the besieged patrol, Sp4c. Baca led his team through the hail of
enemy fire to a firing position within the patrol's defensive
perimeter. As they prepared to engage the enemy, a fragmentation
grenade was thrown into the midst of the patrol. Fully aware of the
danger to his comrades, Sp4c. Baca unhesitatingly, and with
complete disregard for his own safety, covered the grenade with his
steel helmet and fell on it as the grenade exploded, thereby
absorbing the lethal fragments and concussion with his body. His
gallant action and total disregard for his personal well-being
directly saved 8 men from certain serious injury or death. The
extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Sp4c. Baca, at
the risk of his life, are in the highest traditions of the military
service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S.
Army.