From left to right, Col. Russ Gibson, Gene Baskins and Rep. Jeff Helfrich on May 23. Baskins received his Bronze Star Medal for Valor during a ceremony at the old West Side Fire Station.
From left to right, Col. Russ Gibson, Gene Baskins and Rep. Jeff Helfrich on May 23. Baskins received his Bronze Star Medal for Valor during a ceremony at the old West Side Fire Station.
HOOD RIVER — It was standing room only at the old Westside Fire Department on May 23 to witness Gene Baskins receive his Bronze Star Medal for Valor, 58 years after his display of bravery in 1967. Oregon State Rep. and First Gulf War veteran Jeff Helfrich was in attendance and commended Baskins for his service.
“I think when you can recognize valor, even if it’s not right after, but even years later, is important to be there,” Helfrich said. “Just to sit here and honor a man like [Baskins] and his brave actions, it's incredible and humbling to be here.”
Baskins was drafted in 1966 and stationed in the Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam with the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. On Dec. 14, 1967, his bravery in the face of danger earned him the military’s fourth highest combat award.
Attendees raise a glass to Baskins and others who have served their country.
Noah Noteboom photo
Dec. 14, 1967
Baskins had only been in Vietnam for two weeks when his platoon carried out one of their first patrols in the Quang Nam Province about 120 miles south of Hue on Dec. 14, 1967. Serving as a Specialist with the Second Platoon of United States military, he and other squad members traveled via helicopter to the village of Huong My as part of the Operation Wheeler/Wallowa. At the direction of Captain Thomas M. Solenberger, Baskins served as the point man for Sergeant Elverson C. Horne Jr.’s lead squad, who pursued a Viet Cong troop into a high rice paddy dyke once on the ground.
The American platoon came upon an injured enemy combatant after driving away most of his comrades. The injured enemy opened fire. Baskins and his team took cover, and when gunfire ceased, they investigated the presumed location of the injured Viet Cong.
“We got down close to where the firing was, and a grenade came out of the brush in front of me,” Baskins said. “[It] landed probably five, six feet from me.”
It came so close, Baskins said he could see it was American made — he estimated a 1950s model.
Baskins yelled “grenade” and the soldiers ducked for cover once again. The ammunition failed to detonate, and Baskins charged up the rice paddy dyke, but the injured Viet Cong soldier had disappeared.
The squad returned to where additional forces made visual contact.
Seconds later, they heard a metallic clinking sound behind them. The injured Viet Cong had emerged from underground with his firearm exposed. His Browning Automatic Rifle jammed, which gave Baskins enough time to shield his comrades and eliminate the threat.
Colonel Russ Gibson, who spoke at Friday’s ceremony, said Baskins saved many lives that day.
“The tension and danger ended well due to the brave, resolute and selfless actions of Specialist Baskins,” Gibson said. “His independent judgment, timely and determined actions saved the lives of both his squad leader and platoon leader, and others in the platoon. His actions alone allowed the platoon to proceed and accomplish the mission.”
The platoon carried out the mission, which resulted in zero American casualties and the capture of 26 enemy soldiers.
Baskins’ time in Vietnam was short-lived; in Feb. 1968, he returned to the U.S. after he was hit by a mortar that badly injured his leg. His right leg had to be amputated, and he spent a year in recovery at Fort Lewis in Durango, Colorado, before returning to his hometown: Hood River, Oregon.
Family fights for medal
For years, his American comrades would recount his bravery on Dec. 14, 1967, but realized that Baskins was not duly recognized for his actions. The paperwork apparently hadn’t been filed. Second Lieutenant James M. Sprayberry wrote a letter in January 2019 and recommended Baskins be properly awarded. Sprayberry received the military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, in 2005 for his service in Vietnam.
Julie McCool, Baskins’ youngest daughter, began the pursuit of his medal in 2017 when she contacted her local lawmaker in the Salem area. McCool was directed to a local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) office. She said there was a lot of back and forth trying to build a case for his honor. McCool’s sisters, Christie Zeman and Jenean Solomon, joined the efforts and contacted Kathie Eastman Tell, deputy chief of staff for former Congressman Earl Blumenauer. By that time, the sisters had been denied twice, until April of this year.
“I waited, and then in April, [Eastman Tell] just called me out of the blue,” Solomon said. Their request was finally granted.
“It almost brought me to tears when I found out,” Baskins said.
The three said Sprayberry and Eastman Tell were instrumental in helping them finally get the appropriate paperwork filed. According to Zeman, Sprayberry drove to Washington, D.C., from Alabama, and then flew the medal out to Oregon.
After his recovery, Baskins returned to Hood River and worked at a local sporting goods store — Smith’s Surplus — for 25 years, retiring in 1994. Baskins and his wife, Sue, will celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary next month, surrounded by family.
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