Close to 200 people helped us celebrate along with other groups such as the WWII Reenactors, the Military Vehicles Assn, the Civil War Reenactors, and the Automatic Weapons Group. 

As I recently reported to you, I’ve met with General Kane regarding support from the Idaho Military Division for a share of IMHS’ operating costs. General Kane has included this in his budget request to this coming session of the Idaho Legislature. It is hard to predict the fate of this request, since it will be a new budget item, but I am confident General Kane will make a convincing case for it.

P-51 DISPLAY FOR MUSEUM Watch for a P-51 display coming soon to a museum near you! We now have a ¾ scale replica of a WWII-vintage P-51 Mustang which soon will be assembled, given Idaho ANG markings, and prominently displayed at the Museum. The components actually are those created by Papa 51, Ltd., which produced assembly kits for pilots who would build their own ¾ scale P-51.

Unfortunately, Papa 51 Ltd.’s costs to support the 35 Thunder Mustang kits began to rise, and eventually the company dissolved. For us, their loss was our gain. There remained a few parts, which, although unsuited for actual aircraft, are perfectly usable for a display replica. Jason Dillworth of Nampa and formerly employed by Papa 51, had the vision to recognize this opportunity to give the museum a truly remarkable display replica.

Thanks to Jason, his mother Bonnie, Loyle Washam, Loren and Ruth Call, to name a few, extra parts were fabricated over the Thanksgiving holiday--just moments before the company shop was closed. Thanks, too, to Papa 51 CEO and kit creator Dan Denney for his support and involvement in the donation.

- Bill Miller

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

One of the really enjoyable parts of working in our Museum is watching what comes through the door in the way of donations.

Ted Deitz donated two beer bottles from WWII (One of which was found full) that were discovered during demolition of a Gowen Field barracks. During the war, Acme Beer was produced in "Victory Size" two-quart bottles. He also reported that unlike wine, 30+ years did not make a fine beer.

Col Mark Funaiole, the new USPFO, donated an April '49 issue of "Wings Comics". Along with the adventures of Captain Wings and the Phantom Falcon, it contains a story entitled "Air Heroes of World War II – Lt. Col. Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr." The story, of course, is about Lanphier’s part in shooting down the Japanese "Betty" bomber carrying Admiral Yamamoto.

Lanphier went on to become the first Commanding Officer of the 190^th Fighter Squadron upon organization of the Idaho Air National Guard in August 1946.

Both the "Wings Comics" and the half-gallon beer bottle will soon be on display in the Historic Gowen Field Exhibit at the Museum.

- Bob Benbough

O Patricia Adamson        O Jerome J.C. Beau    O Ronald Hill

O Gaye B. Hosefros        O Brian Hosefros        O Kevin M. Kessler

O Walter D. Myers          O Zachary Neefe        O MHAFB Officers Wives Assn

O Jim Townley                   O Mel Vinsonhaler    O Evelyn von Tagen

O Thomas Westall

ó ó ó

VOLUNTEER OF THE QUARTER

Stan joined the Society in 1998 but his interest in military history goes back much further. Four days after his 18^th birthday, he was called up for aviation cadet training. His class was diverted to aircrew training and he trained at Nellis in Las Vegas, NV to be a Ball-Turret Gunner in B-17s.

His training continued at Alexandria Louisiana where he was crewed up and picked up a new B-17 in Nebraska. The crew flew it across the Atlantic and in the later stages of WWII, flew 30 combat missions from a base in Southern Italy.

In 1968-70, Stan worked for the CIA's Air America in ground operations out of various locations in South Vietnam and Thailand.  These experiences added to Stan's life-long fascination with aircraft and he has become an expert on the bombers of all the countries involved in WWI.

Stan is an expert model builder. He has the unique and uncanny ability to look at a photo and build an exact scale model replica of the object in the photo. His specialty of course is airplanes.

Stan also finds time to serve as a museum Docent and he and his wife Mary are both active in IMHS events. To meet Stan and learn just how extensive his knowledge on aircraft and model building is, stop by the Museum for a visit. He will also share some of his 'war stories' with you and most of them are true! ó

IDAHO FILE INTO HISTORY

Rank and Organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company C, 370th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division.
Home of Record: Cheyenne Wyoming
Place and Date: Near Viareggio, Italy, 5-6 April 1945
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty in action on 5 and 6 April 1945, Lt. Baker advanced at the head of his weapons platoon, along with Company C's three rifle platoons, toward their objective; Castle Aghinolfi - a German mountain strong point on the high ground just east of the coastal highway and about two miles from the 370^th Infantry Regiment's line of departure. Moving more rapidly than the rest of the company, Lt. Baker and about 25 men reached the south side of a draw some 250 yards from the castle within two hours. In reconnoitering for a suitable position to set up a machine gun, Lt. Baker observed two cylindrical objects pointing out of a slit in a mount at the edge of a hill. Crawling up and under the opening, he stuck his M-1 into the slit and emptied the clip, killing the observation post's two occupants. Moving to another position in the same area, Lt. Baker stumbled upon a well-camouflaged machine gun nest, the crew of which was eating breakfast. He shot and killed both enemy soldiers. After Capt. John F. Runyon, Company C's Commander, joined the group, a German soldier appeared from the draw and hurled a grenade which failed to explode. Lt. Baker shot the enemy soldier twice as he tried to flee. Lt. Baker then went down into the draw alone. There he blasted open the concealed entrance to another dugout with a hand grenade, shot one German soldier who emerged after the explosion, tossed another grenade into the dugout and entered firing his submachine gun, killing two more Germans. As Lt. Baker climbed back out of the draw, enemy machine gun and mortar fire began to inflict heavy casualties among the group of 25 soldiers, killing or wounding about two-thirds of them. When expected reinforcements did not arrive, Capt. Runyon ordered a withdrawal in two groups. Lt. Baker volunteered to cover the withdrawal of the first group, which consisted of mostly walking wounded, and to remain to assist in the evacuation of the more seriously wounded. During the second group's withdrawal, Lt. Baker, supported by covering fire from one of his platoon members, destroyed two machine gun positions (previously bypassed during the assault) with hand grenades. In all, Lt. Baker accounted for nine dead enemy soldiers, elimination of three machine gun positions, an observation post, and a dugout. On the following night, Lt. Baker voluntarily led a battalion advance through enemy mine fields and heavy fire toward the division objective. Lt. Baker's fighting spirit and daring leadership were an inspiration to his men and exemplify the highest traditions of the military service.^{1 End of Citation}

Vernon was born on 17 December 1919 in Cheyenne Wyoming. His parents died in a car crash when he was 4 years old and his maternal grandparents became surrogate parents for him and his 2 sisters. Although never officially adopted, Vernon took the name Baker. He learned when he enlisted in the Army that his family name was Caldera.

Grandma ran a boarding house for blacks in a segregated Cheyenne. Grandpa was chief brakeman for the Union Pacific railroad.  His sister Cass taught him the alphabet and how to sound out words. Books were hard to come by and magazines scrounged from trashcans were a primary source of reading material. Eventually he learned to read well enough that he was made a deacon at church. It also advanced him to the 3rd grade the first day of 2nd grade. "You read too well for my class"² he was told.

Grandpa taught him to hunt and one Christmas presented him with a .22 cal Remington rifle. He was now able to help keep food on the table.  School included a stay in Boys Town. High School was in Iowa where he graduated with honors and lettered in basketball, track and football. He was also a halfback on the football team. He worked off and on for the railroad but quit after his grandparents died and moved in with his sister.

The idea of a wife and family was appealing but unemployment was a barrier. The army seemed to be the answer. His first attempt at enlisting was rebuffed. "We don’t got no quotas for you people."²  A month later he tried again and this time there was a different recruiter. Vernon requested the Quartermasters, the Recruiter wrote Infantry. It didn’t matter; he had a job. Cheyenne was segregated but that did not prepare him for what was to come.

He left for Basic training at Camp Wolters Texas on June 26, 1941. When the train passed through Junction City, Kansas, a porter appeared & escorted him to the blacks car…up front by the engine where it was hot and sooty. Even the bus that met him was a "hey nigger…get to the back of the bus"² affair.

When he prepared to protest he was stopped by a fellow black and warned that justice for a black in this part of the country was often "a tree and a rope."² He was south of the Mason-Dixon. Black waiting rooms, restrooms, drinking fountains, cafés, etc., etc., etc.

After Camp Wolters with its alkali, chiggers, more alkali, and lye soap, he went to Ft. Huachuca AZ. The day after arriving, while in formation, the company was asked if anybody could type. The 'never volunteer' advice flashed through his mind but he raised his hand anyway…and promptly became the Company Clerk of Co D, 25^th Inf Regiment. It was now October 1941. Shortly thereafter he was promoted to Supply Sergeant.

When the US declared war on Japan, all NCOs received another promotion. He was now a Staff Sergeant. Most of the other black soldiers were illiterate and resented younger men with High School education’s promoted ahead of them. Baker's reading ability got him in trouble, he was beaten up.

After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was ordered to apply for OCS. The papers were already filled out, he was told to 'sign here'. OCS was at Ft. Benning Georgia. His first assignment was at Camp Rucker Alabama as a security officer. The Army decided to gather up "every black soldier…[they] could throw together in one spot"² and Baker returned to Ft. Huachuca.

It was now 1943 and he was in the 370th Combat Team, attached to the 1^st Armored Division, a temporary home until the rest of the all-black 92nd Infantry Division was moved from Arizona to Italy [in 1944]. Blacks were deemed cowards, incapable of anything much less combat. They were commanded by southern whites because they knew ‘how to handle those blacks’². By 1944 white mothers were angry that their sons were dying and the blacks were not involved. So, it was time for ‘black boys to go get killed’², so said the Chief of Staff of the 92d Inf Div.

He sailed to Italy from New York via North Africa on the U.S.S. Mariposa, a luxury liner turned troop ship in the spring of 1944.

'Reality was they watched our every move & sucked us in. They’d fall back, we advanced, they closed in and kicked the stuffing out of us. Any advances were measured in city blocks.'²

He was a buffalo soldiers & wore a shoulder patch with a black buffalo on an OD green background. The Germans (and some white American soldiers) told the Italians that blacks had tails & ate children.

In October 1944 he was wounded in the wrist. It required surgery & physical therapy, which took him out of action for 2 months, and he learned that even hospitals were segregated. Although it wasn’t common practice he was sent back to his old platoon. There was a new Commanding Officer (CO), a black who made Baker the Executive Officer.

Early in 1945 Baker went on a mission which earned him a Bronze Star. It held little meaning for him though, white officers were awarded the Bronze Star so often it was known as the ‘white officers good conduct medal’².  Castle Aghinolfi {The Star on the map} anchored one leg of what was known as the 'Triangle of Death'². "It ruled the mountain passes on the western end of the Gothic Line and was almost atop...the route we needed to travel."² If the Gothic Line was to be broken and the Germans pushed out of Italy, the castle had to be taken, it couldn't be gone around.

The other two legs of the triangle were Mounts Folgorito & Carchio and all three had communication links to artillery, mortars, & howitzers. It was the way in & the Germans knew it. Barbed wire & mine fields forced any attacker into the German line of fire. "The Germans could drop a mortar in a man’s hip pocket. And often did."²

The first two attempts to take the castle happened while he was in the hospital. The 3rd attempt was in Feb '45. It too failed. The 4th attempt involved Baker's group. Baker’s tenure as senior officer came to an end with the arrival of a new white CO, Capt. Runyon, who had little combat experience. Baker was bumped back to Platoon Leader and reassigned to the weapons platoon. Then word came that the next assault on the castle would begin on April 5th.

The 442 RCT & 100th Inf Bn, both Japanese-American (Nisei) groups were to attack the two legs of the Triangle, Baker's group drew the castle. At 3:30 a.m. Baker's group of 25, short 11 men due to casualties and lack of replacements, headed out. Overall the company was short 70 men. At 4:45 a.m. the Allied artillery began shelling as it had done all week so the Germans wouldn't know that this day was any different. When it stopped, they began the move.

The battle began well but soon turned sour. Attempts to call in Allied artillery went unheeded, nobody believed they had advanced 3 miles behind enemy lines.

When the war broke out in Korea in 1950 he was made a lieutenant again, but his request for Korea was denied. The DCS made him to highly decorated to risk loosing in battle, he was sent to Alaska.  In 1948 the army was ordered desegregated by President Truman but it didn’t trickle down to Lt. Baker until September 10, 1951.

---

1^st Lt. Vernon Baker, 11^th Airborne, Ft. Campbell KY, 1951

 

---

At Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, he was promoted from Platoon Leader to Company Commander, much to the chagrin of the white 2d Lt. in the CO office.

When the Korean Conflict ended he left the Airborne and went back to the Signal Corps and photography. He still did not have a college degree and had to once again relinquish his officer status. He was back at Ft. Huachucca as the post Photo Lab Chief. It was there that he met Fern who became his wife in June 1953.

Future assignments included Fort Ord and an unaccompanied tour in Korea. After his tour in Korea he returned to Ft. Ord and was assigned to Co A, 4^th Bn, 1^st Bde, a training brigade, as their First Sergeant. The fall of 1967 found him as a HQ Company First Sergeant in Mainz Germany with the 8^th Airborne Brigade. (A paperwork snafu still listed him as jump qualified…at age 48.)

"Combat, racism, and beatings couldn’t chase me from the Army. Drugs and desertion did."² It was the middle of the Viet Nam war. Desertions were skyrocketing; drug use was rampant. He began making his morning rounds with a .45 for protection. It was too much.  In August 1968, at age 48, he made his last airplane jump & at Ft. Hamilton NY, with 27 years and 6 months of service, retired. Retired pay was less than $300 per month. He went to work for the Red Cross...which sent him to Viet Nam in 1969.

After 2 days of intense questioning, Baker was shown recently declassified reports written by Runyon and other 92d Inf Div commanders. They were repulsive not to mention humiliating. Runyon had taken credit for all the success of that day in April 1945. His report had also been altered and backdated to fit the views of his superiors...blacks were incapable of combat. Baker also learned for the first time that he had been nominated for The Medal of Honor but it had been blocked. Even Runyon had been nominated for one but had received the DSC instead.

Finally in 1996, Baker received word that he and 6 other black WWII veterans were to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The other 6 were deceased. Legislation waiving the 1952 deadline for WWII soldiers to receive honors was signed. Finally, after 50 years, recognition for black soldiers.

"History has been made whole today."³



A presentation date was scheduled and on January 13, 1997, in the East Room of the White House, President Clinton placed the Medal of Honor around his neck.

They reported that they had found WWII photos of 148^th personnel in Australia and they would send us copies. Below is a sample of what they sent.

In all, they sent us eight photos. Plans are under way to incorporate them into a 148^th Field Artillery Exhibit in the near future.ó

In April, the Board of Directors reviewed and updated its Strategic Plan. We are pleased to present the highlights of our Plan:

Inasmuch as an appreciation and understanding of history and heritage is the foundation of continued progress for any culture, the Idaho Military Historical Society will concern itself with programs and policies that will educate and enlighten the public on the military history and traditions of Idaho and its citizens.

The IMHS works cooperatively with the historical programs and facilities of the Idaho State Historical Society, the Idaho Military Division, and other military and civilian organizations. Fundraising, grants, and endowments are fully used in IMHS' numerous projects and acquisitions.

± To maintain and continually update a long-range collection plan based on themes, exhibits, and eras. The plan includes permanent, rotating, and mobile exhibits.

± To construct theme-based exhibits. (Korean War, Idaho Medal of Honor Recipients, Idaho National Guard in world wars, USMC in S. Pacific, to name a few)

± To implement and expand our educational outreach program with emphasis on enriching Idaho public and private school curricula.

± To implement an aggressive endowment program for the long-term financial security of the Society.

± To conduct 8 membership-generating activities during the fiscal year.

± To expand our Reference/Research Library for use by all members of the public.

± To enlist Corporate Sponsors for Special Projects.

± To provide consultation to the CG’s staff on unit memorials, and perform oversight and inspection of Gowen Field external equipment displays.

We know of two individuals, one of whom served with the 32nd Division (army) in the Pacific during World War II, who received a ribbon that we have been unable to identify.

This is a picture of the ribbon.