THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, January 14, 1997             TAG: 9701140264
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A2   EDITION: FINAL 
                                            LENGTH:   19 lines

AT LAST, BLACKS HONORED FOR WWII VALOR

President Clinton congratulates Vernon Baker, 77, after presenting

him with a Medal of Honor Monday at the White House. Baker, of St.

Maries, Idaho, was one of seven black soldiers honored - Baker, for

a 1945 firefight in which he took out German gunposts and killed

nine enemy soldiers. As he listened to Clinton speak, a tear rolled

down his left cheek.

KEYWORDS: AFRICAN AMERICAN WWII MEDAL OF HONOR