Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Regiment:

    9th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    2d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    November 30, 1950

    Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 82 (April 14, 1951)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Manuel Baker Hernandez (ASN: RA-19349072), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the Heavy Mortar Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 30 November 1950 in the vicinity of Kunu-ri, Korea. While his unit was proceeding in a motorized column in an attempt to break through an enemy roadblock, the vehicle in which Corporal Hernandez was riding was destroyed by hostile machine gun fire. In the ensuing action he was wounded in the shoulder, but succeeded in reaching the comparative safety of a nearby ditch. While in this position, he noticed a vehicle ahead of him whose driver had been wounded. In spite of his intense pain, he made his way under the continuing enemy fire to the vehicle and placed seven wounded comrades aboard. While driving the vehicle in an effort to carry the wounded to safety he stopped to pick up another wounded soldier lying along the road. As he stepped from the vehicle he was struck and killed by enemy automatic weapons fire. The gallantry and devotion to his wounded comrades displayed by Corporal Hernandez reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.