The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Radioman Second Class Harold L. Baker, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action on the night of 20 December 1970 while serving as the rear security for a five-man Sea-Air-Land Team ONE (SEAL-1) patrol on an interdiction mission deep within enemy territory in the Republic of Vietnam. Immediately after inserting ashore, the patrol came under withering enemy fire from automatic weapons, grenades, and rockets, mortally wounding the patrol leader and the automatic weapons man, and critically wounding the patrol’s radioman and Vietnamese guide. Although he was not wounded, Petty Officer Baker found himself in the river waters struggling to keep his head above the surface. Through sheer determination, he pulled himself and the body of a fallen comrade onto the bank and then returned a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire toward the enemy in an effort to stave off an assault on the squad’s position. Subsequently, Petty Officer Baker administered lifesaving first aid to the two wounded members of the patrol and directed the recovery of the bodies of the patrol leader and the automatic weapons man. By his great personal valor and fighting spirit in the face of heavy enemy fire, he upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.