John Philip Baca

On Feb 10th, 1970 Sergeant Baca was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, and was deployed in Phuoc Long Province. Then Sp4C Baca led his recoilless rifle team to assist a besieged patrol when a fragmentation grenade was thrown into the midst of his team. He covered the grenade with his helmet and fell on it as it exploded. His action saved eight fellow soldiers from being severely wounded or killed. Miraculously, although his body was blown open and riddled with burning metal, quick action by his platoon leader and medics saved his life. He was transferred from hospitalization in Japan to extended recovery and rehabilitation for over a year in San Diego’s Balboa Naval Hospital. John credits the nurse in charge of managing, as well as administering his care during this critical period, Commander Angeline Liakos, U.S. Navy Nurse Corps for saving his life. Over the years, they became life-long friends, and when Angie's health deteriorated, John took care of her. It was his dream to put a plaque honoring "Nurse Angie" on a wall at the Memorial. He not only made that happen but made certain she got to see it shortly before she died. Her plaque is on wall J, east side, row 5, plaque 18. Baca also received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Air Medal. He grew up in San Diego, attended Kearny High School, and spent several years during his recovery in Julian where he began his custom of sending Julian apple pies to the families of service members severely wounded or KIA.

Docent’s Note: The above is considered as John’s condensed, formal, biography. John’s living in our extended community affords many of us the opportunity to interact directly, or tangentially, with this very special man. His bravery made him a public figure, and the sum of his combat experiences defined him as a hero. Among these are a few things John wishes to share with others who might find them consoling or inspirational in their lives.

John considers this event as important to him as his being awarded the MOH, terming it, “The most beautiful Christmas gift ever.” While on point during a patrol on Christmas 1969, he came across a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldier sitting on a bunker exposed and apparently alone.

John faced the decision of killing him, or risking contact that would expose him to additional and unnecessary danger taking the soldier captive. He chose the latter. A period alone was required before additional soldiers could arrive and take charge of the prisoner. John experiencing a sense of gratitude that he had avoided killing on this Holy day, decided to show the prisoner photographs of his mother and family. It turned out the NVA soldier also had photos of his family. The simple act of their sharing within the totality of the day’s circumstances and the melancholy of being far from home and family while continually in harm’s way moved both to tears. John would often recall the serendipitous incident, and wonder how the capriciousness of war had treated the young NVA.

John has returned with other Viet Nam veterans to assist the Vietnamese people recover from the ravages of war, particularly the random carnage of our B-52 bombings. During September-October 1990, he was part of a Veteran’s group that traveled to Gia Lam Province, 12± miles southerly from Hanoi. The work party they joined was comprised of NVA, as well as American veterans, all working for a common cause, building the Vietnamese American Friendship Clinic.

The community had been the focus of weeklong B-52 bombings during Christmas week of 1972. The raids were estimated to have delivered 10,000 bombs over the one-week period. Working on the clinic, John found himself across from a Vietnamese that seemed familiar. After staring at each other briefly, the lights went on for both, it was an emotional reunion for both the NVA soldier whose life he spared nearly 21-years earlier and John an act of compassion that became John’s most beautiful Christmas.

When John recounts the seminal event that shaped his future life, he partially reveals the complexity of end-of-life decisions and processes. There are two that he wishes to share, particularly with the spouses, children, parents, and family of those MOH recipients, and other KIA who died violently, especially those without the comfort of others. He recounts that after his devastating injury he experienced being held and comforted up to and including becoming aware that he was being cared for, his intestines being pushed back into his body cavity after shards of burning metal were removed. He expresses to those survivors his desire to meet and comfort them with his experiences. He summarizes as no pain, rather a peaceful calm, that rather than agonizing or frightening is, blissful.

A final comment for now. John had a difficult younger life, complicated by several influences and choices made. Many of these as a pre-teen and teen led to partying with those who were not the best influence which led to bad decisions. He speaks of being drafted in the height of the unpopular Viet Nam war as being one of the most beneficial things that happened in his life up to then. His message to others from his experience? Avoid the sirens call of partying and its handmaiden, shirking responsibilities like attending class in school, looking for personal validation from others rather than from personal achievement, selfish friends on the hunt for the easy way, and new ways of gratification with no concern for others. As proof, he says that when recovering in the hospital in his hometown, not one of his youthful “friends” ever came to visit. Only the friends he served with, those he met that were part of his recovery, and those that he met simply because they cared enough to care about his wellbeing or share his values of loyalty and commitment to helping others. Some insights into what makes John tick can be found on YouTube, of which there are several, with the following particularly insightful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ITNXvphU1M

In closing, there is no doubt about where John’s heart is when you watch him interact with children and their parents.