Medal of Honor history: Littrell and Baker

4 April 1970 in Kontum Province, Vietnam: Sergeant First Class Gary L. Littrell was advising a battalion of Vietnamese Rangers when the unit came under intense mortar fire, killing the Vietnamese commander, one of Littrell’s advisors, and seriously wounding all the remaining advisors. Littrell established a defensive perimeter, and single-handedly bolstered the unit as his battalion endured assault after assault over the next four days. Littrell’s citation

5 April 1945 near Viareggio, Italy: When First Lieutenant Vernon J. Baker’s company was  stopped by concentrated fire, Baker crawled forward and destroyed three machine gun positions and an observation post – either single-handedly or with the aid of only one man. The next night, he voluntarily led a battalion through a mine field and heavy fire to a division objective. Baker’s citation