FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Fort Drum and New York Army National Guard officials honored the courage and sacrifice of two native New Yorkers during two separate memorialization ceremonies Monday.
Two buildings were renamed to honor Lt. Col. William J. O'Brien and Sgt. Thomas A. Baker, both natives of Troy who served in the NYARNG's 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. O'Brien and Baker both posthumously received the Medal of Honor on May 9, 1945, for their heroic actions during their service in Saipan, Marianas Islands, during World War II.
Both O'Brien and Baker were killed during an enemy attack July 7, 1944.
"In the Army, we always instill history in our Soldiers," said Col. Richard Goldenberg, New York Army National Guard public affairs officer. "We take pride in our units and the contributions (of Soldiers) across the centuries. Today, we're honoring two specific Soldiers from the 27th Infantry (Division). They were the forbearers of the 27th Infantry Brigade based in Syracuse."
More than 1,000 Soldiers from the unit come to train at Fort Drum every year, Goldenberg added.
"By dedicating these buildings to Lt. Col. O'Brien and Sgt. Baker, we're honoring their legacy and their service," he said. "(They were part) of the 'greatest generation,' and that legacy is being passed along to the latest generation.
"As our Soldiers learn about these two great Americans, they'll learn that they were just ordinary New Yorkers who joined the National Guard … during a time of war," Goldenberg continued. "We've seen that in the past decade as fellow New Yorkers mobilized with their units and have gone off to war. It's a hallmark of the National Guard that friends and neighbors often serve side by side -- at home and abroad. In this case, the two Troy natives fought and died together as well."
Soldiers and community members gathered at Bldg. 50001 for the unveiling of the newly renamed O'Brien Readiness Training Center.
O'Brien served as battalion commander of 1-105th Infantry in Saipan from June 20 to July 7, 1944.
According to his Medal of Honor citation, O'Brien ordered three tanks to knock out an enemy strongpoint. In the heat of battle and under direct enemy fire, the tankers closed the turrets. In doing so, they lost direction and began fire upon their fellow Soldiers. O'Brien ran through enemy fire, mounted the lead tank and personally directed the assault, annihilating the enemy strongpoint.
During his time in Saipan, O'Brien also orchestrated a maneuver to capture two enemy units. He crossed through 1,200 yards of sniper-infested underbrush to reach a platoon that had been held up by enemy fighters. He led four Soldiers through enemy territory, organized two platoons for a night defense and led his unit to hold its ground.
On July 7, 1944, the Soldiers of 1-105th Infantry were attacked by thousands of Japanese banzai fighters. O'Brien his Soldiers engaged in hand-to-hand combat. The unit ran through almost all of its ammunition and suffered many casualties.
O'Brien refused to leave the front lines. He walked up and down the lines firing a pistol from each hand, boosting morale and encouraging his Soldiers. O'Brien was seriously wounded, but after refusing to be evacuated and running through his own ammunition, he took control of a 50-caliber machine gun and continued to fight. His body was found surrounded by many enemy fighters who had fallen to his gun fire.
Col. Gary A. Rosenberg, Fort Drum garrison commander, reflected on O'Brien's leadership and courage.
"He certainly wasn't the only brave soul out there fighting," he said. "He will always be remembered as a remarkable leader and as a man who cared about his Soldiers, ensured they had the training they needed and who inspired his Soldiers by leading from the front.
"Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf said 'the truth of the matter is, you always know the right thing to do; the hard part is doing it,'" Rosenberg added. "Lt. Col. O'Brien's actions on July 7, 1944, are a clear indicator that it was not hard for him to do the right thing: to lead men the way he knew they deserved to be led -- from the front. He could ask no more from them than he was willing to give of himself. Given his ties to the National Guard, his commitment to training and his inspiring leadership, it seems fitting that this readiness training center bear his name."
Later in the day, Bldg. 1008, which houses the Engagement Skills Trainer weapons simulator, was renamed the Baker Weapons Training Facility.
"The heroism, sacrifice and selfless service of the 105th Infantry Regiment was present not only in the commander 70 years ago, but also rested in its Soldiers like Sgt. Thomas Baker," Goldenberg said.
Baker worked at the Troy YMCA when he enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 1935. He served for three years, but he rejoined the unit in 1940.
When Baker arrived in Saipan on June 19, 1944, he was a private. During a battle in which his company was held up by heavy enemy fire, Baker grabbed a bazooka and ran toward the enemy.
"Through heavy machine-gun fire, he knocked out the enemy strongpoint, enabling his company to assault a ridge," Goldenberg said. "For his action, he received a battlefield promotion to sergeant."
In another instance, Baker served as rear guard for his company. He came across 12 Japanese soldiers and exchanged small-arms fire until he eliminated the threat. Baker later was responsible for killing another six enemy fighters that day.
During the banzai attack that took the life of O'Brien on July 7, 1944, Baker was hit with grenade shrapnel. He fought until all of his ammunition had been expended before using his rifle as a club to fight off Japanese fighters.
Baker agreed to be evacuated from his position on the front lines. Soldiers who were attempting to move injured Soldiers to a safer place also became casualties.
"Baker doggedly refused to be carried any further, stating that he'd rather be left to die than risk the lives of any more of his friends," Goldenberg explained. "He insisted that he be left alone and given a cigarette and a pistol that, when fully loaded, held eight rounds."
His body was found propped up with his cigarette burned down and eight dead Japanese fighters lying around him, Goldenberg said.
"By all accounts, every man who fought and died with the 105th Infantry Regiment during the banzai charge on July 7, (1944), is a tremendous hero to our Army," he said. "The narratives that provided the Medal of Honor to men like Sgt. Thomas Baker only exist because witnesses survived that terrible day to recount his heroism.
"Today, we dedicate this weapons simulator to Sgt. Thomas Baker as a symbol of his tenacity, devotion to duty and selflessness," Goldenberg continued. "May these values pass along to every Soldier who trains here."
Noncommissioned officers have two main responsibilities -- accomplishing the mission and caring for the welfare of his or her Soldiers, according to Rosenberg.
"(Baker) refused to leave his unit and his fellow Soldiers, and he refused to stop fighting," he said. "He asked for a gun and used his last moments to continue his mission. He continued protecting his men to the very end. It's fitting that his story is now and forever more part of our weapons simulation training facility. These values will be the foundation of all that is taught here.
"In Baker's last moments, I doubt he was thinking about how much he epitomized those responsibilities," Rosenberg continued. "I doubt he could've guessed that his name would be emblazoned upon a plaque to inspire and reinforce why we call our noncommissioned officers the 'backbone of the Army.' He may not have realized it, but I know without a doubt that 70 years (ago), his Soldiers knew it."
O'Brien and Baker were only two of three Soldiers from 1-105th Infantry to receive the Medal of Honor, Goldenberg explained. Capt. Ben L. Salomon, an Army dentist, also was killed July 7, 1944, while assisting with medical evacuations and standing against enemy fighters who were trying to overrun the field hospital. He was credited with killing nearly 100 Japanese soldiers during the fight. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on May 1, 2002.
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