[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 24, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING SERGEANT JOHN BAKER, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Schilling) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SCHILLING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 
distinguished life of Sergeant John Baker, Jr.
  Born in Davenport, Iowa, but raised within the 17th District of 
Illinois, in Moline, Sergeant Baker served in Vietnam as a proud member 
of the United States Army. His selflessness and heroism earned him the 
Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart as he 
bravely fought for God and country. Sergeant Baker would humbly say 
that this Medal of Honor was not actually for him, that he had done 
what anyone would have, that the medal belonged to all servicemen, to 
all veterans.
  Though he surely never would have said so himself, Sergeant Baker--
the Quad Cities only Medal of Honor recipient--represented all that is 
good about our great Nation. Although he is no longer with us, the I-
280 bridge named after John Baker, Vietnam veteran, and the monument 
will also serve as a constant reminder of who Sergeant Baker was and 
what he did for us all.
  Godspeed, Sergeant Baker. God bless you for your outstanding service, 
your remarkable courage, and your modest heroism.

                          ____________________