Baker , who received the Medal of Honor more than 50 years after his heroic acts , died at 90 . He took out several machine gun nests firing on his unit in combat . The U.S. government believes racism was a factor in Medal of Honor decisions . ` ` I just thought I was a soldier and I did my job , '' Baker said after the 1997 award .
Baker , who received the Medal of Honor more than 50 years after his heroic acts , dies at 90 . He took out several machine gun nests firing on his unit in Italy . The U.S. government admitted racism was a factor in Medal of Honor decisions . `` I just feel I was a soldier and I did my job , '' Baker said after the 1997 ceremony .