Moline Medal of Honor - The Late John BakerWe Were in the Same Gym Class!

  John Baker was born in Davenport, Iowa and attended Moline High School from 1963 to 1966. At only 5 1 he was a gymnast before joining the army. His wife thought

 that gave him the strength and stamina to carry his buddies to safety. He became a tunnel rat in Vietnam, a soldier who entered Viet Cong tunnels searching out the enemy and destroying their caches of war material. Baker made the military his career, retiring in 1989. He then began working as a computer analyst at a Veterans Hospital in South Carolina. In addition to serving as the Vice-President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, he serves as a member on the Nation s Monuments and Cemeteries Committee.

In 2008, the I-280 Bridge, connecting Davenport, Iowa with Rock Island, Illinois, was renamed the Sergeant John F. Baker, Jr., Bridge in honor of Baker.

FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Sgt John F Baker, Jr ~ 19 October 2025

John Baker was born in Davenport, Iowa and attended Moline High School from 1963 to 1966. At only 5 1 he was a gymnast before joining the army. His wife thought that gave him the strength and stamina to carry his buddies to safety. He became a tunnel rat in Vietnam, a soldier who entered Viet Cong tunnels searching out the enemy and destroying their caches of war material. Baker made the military his career, retiring in 1989. He then began working as a computer analyst at a Veterans Hospital in South Carolina. In addition to serving as the Vice-President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, he serves as a member on the Nation s Monuments and Cemeteries Committee.

In 2008, the I-280 Bridge, connecting Davenport, Iowa with Rock Island, Illinois, was renamed the Sergeant John F. Baker, Jr., Bridge in honor of Baker.