[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEDAL OF HONOR NOMINEES

  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to seven 
unsung heroes of World War II. Although a half-century in the making, 
it is never too late to honor the bravery and heroism of our men and 
women in uniform. I view the nomination of seven African-American World 
War II heroes for the Medal of Honor with much admiration and pride. 
This is an honor that should have been bestowed many decades ago. The 
award acknowledges a job well done and is absolutely well deserved.
  A 15-month study conducted by a team of military historians reviewed 
the nation's archives and interviewed veterans to find out why no black 
service member received the Medal of Honor during World War II. Nine 
black soldiers were awarded the second-highest honor--the Distinguished 
Service Cross. I was surprised, however, to learn that the study found 
no evidence that any African-American soldier in World War II was ever 
nominated for the Medal of Honor, though commanders, comrades and 
archival records indicate that at least four of the seven nominees had 
been recommended. This same report found evidence that the segregation 
of units by race often complicated training, exacerbated relations 
between officers and enlisted men and their units, and undermined the 
morale of these units in both subtle and obvious ways.
  The Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on 
National Security approved a provision in the Defense Authorization 
bill that would authorize the Secretary of the Army to award the Medal 
of Honor to African-American former service members who have been found 
by the Secretary of the Army to have distinguished themselves by 
gallantry above and beyond the call of duty while serving in the U.S. 
Army during WWII.
  It is truly unfortunate that only one of the seven nominees--Vernon 
J. Baker--is still living. On April 5, 1945, then First Lieutenant 
Baker led a platoon over ``Hill X'' in Italy. Along the way, he and his 
men destroyed six machine gun nests, two observer posts and four 
dugouts while the Germans rained bullets down on them. Out of 25 men, 7 
Americans survived while 26 Germans were killed in the action. ``Hill 
X'' had to be taken in order to capture a castle that guarded the town 
of Montignoso along Highway 1. The route was key to the Allies push 
north and its capture helped to hastened the end of WWII. First 
Lieutenant Baker received the Distinguished Service Cross--our Nation's 
second highest award--for his actions. And now at long last he will 
receive the appropriate recognition--the Medal of Honor the highest 
honor that we can bestow.
  Mr. Baker, although raised in Wyoming, moved to St. Maries, ID, in 
1987 because he enjoys the State's hunting and great outdoor 
opportunities. I am proud of and thankful for the many sacrifices that 
our men and women in uniform have made in the past and continue to make 
around the world. We are certainly proud that Mr. Baker now resides in 
the State of Idaho, and that he and the other nominees will now 
rightfully receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

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