Herschel D. Baker

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star Medal to Herschel D. Baker (0-11391), Colonel (Field Artillery), [then Lieutenant Colonel], U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion near Sbeitla, Tunisia, on 17 February 1943. When a large number of enemy tanks threatened to complete a double envelopment of his command, Colonel Baker went forward under very heavy tank fire and, standing in an exposed position, coolly supervised the orderly withdrawal of the battalion.