[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 56 (Monday, May 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3971-S3972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

 Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr President, I rise today in strong support 
of Senator Kempthorne's effort to provide Medal of Honor recipient 
Vernon Joseph Baker, and the heirs of Medal of Honor recipients Edward 
Carter and Charles Thomas, with retroactive compensation for their 
awards.
  During World War II Mr. Baker was an Army 2d lieutenant serving with 
the 92d Infantry Division in Europe. During a 2-day action near 
Viareggio, Italy he single-handedly wiped out two German machinegun 
nests, led successful attacks on two others, drew fire on himself to 
permit the evacuation of his wounded comrades, and then led a battalion 
advance through enemy minefields. Mr. Baker is the only one of these 
three men still alive today, and he currently resides in St. Maries, 
ID.
  Edward Carter, of Los Angeles, was a staff sergeant with the 12th 
Armored Division when his tank was destroyed in action near Speyer, 
Germany, in March of 1945. Mr. Carter led three men through 
extraordinary gunfire that left two of them dead, the third wounded, 
and himself wounded five times. When eight enemy riflemen attempted to 
capture him, he killed six of them, captured the remaining two and, 
using his prisoners as a shield, recrossed an exposed field to safety. 
The prisoners yielded valuable information. Mr Carter died in 1963.
  Charles Thomas, of Detroit, was a major with the 103d Infantry 
Division serving near Climbach, France, in December of 1944. When his 
scout car was hit by intense artillery fire, Mr. Thomas assisted the 
crew to cover and, despite severe wounds, managed to signal the column 
some distance behind him to halt. Despite additional multiple wounds in 
the chest, legs, and left arm, he ordered and directed the dispersion 
and emplacement of two antitank guns that effectively returned enemy 
fire. He refused evacuation until certain his junior officer was in 
control of the situation. Mr. Thomas died in 1980.
  I commend Mr. Baker, Mr. Carter, and Mr. Thomas for their bravery and 
Senator Kempthorne for leading this effort.
  As a result of their heroics, these men had clearly met the criteria 
for being awarded a Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest award for 
valor. This medal is only awarded to a member of the U.S. armed 
services who ``distinguishes themselves conspicuously by gallantry and 
intrepidity at the risk of their life and beyond the call of duty,'' 
with an act ``so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual 
above their comrades.'' However, because of the racial climate of the 
time and the segregated nature of the Army in 1945, African-Americans 
were denied the Medal of Honor. It is a sad testament to America's 
legacy of discrimination that although 1.2 million African-Americans 
served in the military during the Second World War, including Mr. 
Baker, Mr. Carter, and Mr. Thomas, none received 1 of the 433 Medals of 
Honor awarded during the conflict.

  This past January our Nation took an important step in correcting 
this injustice by awarding Mr. Vernon Joseph Baker, and six of his dead 
comrades, the Medal of Honor during a long-overdue ceremony at the 
White House. This recognition of these men's extraordinary courage was 
a vindication for all African-American heroes of World War II. In order 
to further demonstrate our profound thanks to these brave men, I 
support Senator Kempthorne's effort to retroactively compensate Mr. 
Baker, and the heirs of Mr. Carter and Mr. Thomas for the money that 
they would have received from the Army for receiving the Medal of 
Honor. The other three heros died as a result of the brave deeds which 
qualified them to receive the Medal, and thus would not have received 
any compensation by the military.
  Each recipient of this Medal is entitled to receive a token monthly 
stipend from their respective branch of the military after they leave 
active duty service. In 1945 the stipend was $10 and today it has risen 
to $400. Since he was denied the Medal more than a half century ago, 
Mr. Baker and the survivors of Mr. Carter and Mr. Thomas, deserve to 
receive the same amount of money that they would have received had they 
been awarded the Medal at the close of World War II. America is 
profoundly thankful for the patriotism of these

[[Page S3972]]

men, and awarding retroactive compensation to them is a simple way to 
express our gratitude for their service. For these reasons I stand 
today to recognize Mr. Baker, Mr. Carter, and Mr. Thomas, and support 
retroactively compensating them for their accomplishments.

                          ____________________