Captain, U.S. Army. World War II.
Cud Thomas Baird III was born on 28 January 1921 in Bellevue, PA, the son of Cud Thomas Baird, Jr. and his first wife, Norma Elmina Bozarth Baird.
Cud Baird III was called to active duty with the U.S. Army on 12 April 1942.
On 18 August 1944, then-First Lieutenant Cud Thomas Baird III was serving with the 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, Third U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations. On that day, 1LT Baird was cited for gallantry in action against German forces and earned the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.
On 8 September 1944, now-Captain Baird, after receiving reports that a column of German armored vehicles were approaching friendly positions near Mairy, France, CPT Baird advanced with a rocket launcher and disabled the lead vehicle, blocking the advance of the rest of the column. As German infantry deployed across the fields on each side of the road for a fire fight, he fired a second rocket that disabled a 2nd armored vehicle despite his position being the object of a heavy concentration of fire. After his ammunition was exhausted, he went back for more and, although wounded by enemy fire a short time later, returned to organize and lead his company in a complete rout of the enemy forces. CPT Baird's courageous actions and inspiring leadership earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
Medals, Awards and Badges
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal (Merit) with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Battle Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
On 8 September 1944, after receiving reports that a column of enemy armored vehicles were approaching friendly positions near Mairy, France, Captain Baird fearlessly advanced with a rocket launcher and with deadly, accurate fire disabled the lead vehicle, blocking the defile against further advance by the remainder of the column. Even as hostile infantry deployed across the fields to each side of the road for a fierce fire fight he continued his aggressive actions disabling a second armored vehicle even though his position became the object of a heavy concentration of return fire. When his ammunition was exhausted, he went back for more and although wounded by enemy shellfire shortly afterward, returned to organize and lead his company in a complete rout of the enemy forces. Captain Baird's courageous actions and unflinching devotion to duty reflect a great credit upon himself and the military service.
Honors
Captain Cud Thomas Baird III has Honoree Record 311647, with biography, at MilitaryHallofHonor.com.
Cud Thomas Baird III was born on 28 January 1921 in Bellevue, PA, the son of Cud Thomas Baird, Jr. and his first wife, Norma Elmina Bozarth Baird.
Cud Baird III was called to active duty with the U.S. Army on 12 April 1942.
On 18 August 1944, then-First Lieutenant Cud Thomas Baird III was serving with the 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, Third U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations. On that day, 1LT Baird was cited for gallantry in action against German forces and earned the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.
On 8 September 1944, now-Captain Baird, after receiving reports that a column of German armored vehicles were approaching friendly positions near Mairy, France, CPT Baird advanced with a rocket launcher and disabled the lead vehicle, blocking the advance of the rest of the column. As German infantry deployed across the fields on each side of the road for a fire fight, he fired a second rocket that disabled a 2nd armored vehicle despite his position being the object of a heavy concentration of fire. After his ammunition was exhausted, he went back for more and, although wounded by enemy fire a short time later, returned to organize and lead his company in a complete rout of the enemy forces. CPT Baird's courageous actions and inspiring leadership earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
Medals, Awards and Badges
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal (Merit) with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Battle Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
On 8 September 1944, after receiving reports that a column of enemy armored vehicles were approaching friendly positions near Mairy, France, Captain Baird fearlessly advanced with a rocket launcher and with deadly, accurate fire disabled the lead vehicle, blocking the defile against further advance by the remainder of the column. Even as hostile infantry deployed across the fields to each side of the road for a fierce fire fight he continued his aggressive actions disabling a second armored vehicle even though his position became the object of a heavy concentration of return fire. When his ammunition was exhausted, he went back for more and although wounded by enemy shellfire shortly afterward, returned to organize and lead his company in a complete rout of the enemy forces. Captain Baird's courageous actions and unflinching devotion to duty reflect a great credit upon himself and the military service.
Honors
Captain Cud Thomas Baird III has Honoree Record 311647, with biography, at MilitaryHallofHonor.com.
Captain, U.S. Army. World War II.
Cud Thomas Baird III was born on 28 January 1921 in Bellevue, PA, the son of Cud Thomas Baird, Jr. and his first wife, Norma Elmina Bozarth Baird.
Cud Baird III was called to active duty with the U.S. Army on 12 April 1942.
On 18 August 1944, then-First Lieutenant Cud Thomas Baird III was serving with the 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, Third U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations. On that day, 1LT Baird was cited for gallantry in action against German forces and earned the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.
On 8 September 1944, now-Captain Baird, after receiving reports that a column of German armored vehicles were approaching friendly positions near Mairy, France, CPT Baird advanced with a rocket launcher and disabled the lead vehicle, blocking the advance of the rest of the column. As German infantry deployed across the fields on each side of the road for a fire fight, he fired a second rocket that disabled a 2nd armored vehicle despite his position being the object of a heavy concentration of fire. After his ammunition was exhausted, he went back for more and, although wounded by enemy fire a short time later, returned to organize and lead his company in a complete rout of the enemy forces. CPT Baird's courageous actions and inspiring leadership earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
Medals, Awards and Badges
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal (Merit) with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Battle Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
On 8 September 1944, after receiving reports that a column of enemy armored vehicles were approaching friendly positions near Mairy, France, Captain Baird fearlessly advanced with a rocket launcher and with deadly, accurate fire disabled the lead vehicle, blocking the defile against further advance by the remainder of the column. Even as hostile infantry deployed across the fields to each side of the road for a fierce fire fight he continued his aggressive actions disabling a second armored vehicle even though his position became the object of a heavy concentration of return fire. When his ammunition was exhausted, he went back for more and although wounded by enemy shellfire shortly afterward, returned to organize and lead his company in a complete rout of the enemy forces. Captain Baird's courageous actions and unflinching devotion to duty reflect a great credit upon himself and the military service.
Honors
Captain Cud Thomas Baird III has Honoree Record 311647, with biography, at MilitaryHallofHonor.com.
Cud Thomas Baird III was born on 28 January 1921 in Bellevue, PA, the son of Cud Thomas Baird, Jr. and his first wife, Norma Elmina Bozarth Baird.
Cud Baird III was called to active duty with the U.S. Army on 12 April 1942.
On 18 August 1944, then-First Lieutenant Cud Thomas Baird III was serving with the 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, Third U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations. On that day, 1LT Baird was cited for gallantry in action against German forces and earned the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.
On 8 September 1944, now-Captain Baird, after receiving reports that a column of German armored vehicles were approaching friendly positions near Mairy, France, CPT Baird advanced with a rocket launcher and disabled the lead vehicle, blocking the advance of the rest of the column. As German infantry deployed across the fields on each side of the road for a fire fight, he fired a second rocket that disabled a 2nd armored vehicle despite his position being the object of a heavy concentration of fire. After his ammunition was exhausted, he went back for more and, although wounded by enemy fire a short time later, returned to organize and lead his company in a complete rout of the enemy forces. CPT Baird's courageous actions and inspiring leadership earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
Medals, Awards and Badges
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal (Merit) with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Battle Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
On 8 September 1944, after receiving reports that a column of enemy armored vehicles were approaching friendly positions near Mairy, France, Captain Baird fearlessly advanced with a rocket launcher and with deadly, accurate fire disabled the lead vehicle, blocking the defile against further advance by the remainder of the column. Even as hostile infantry deployed across the fields to each side of the road for a fierce fire fight he continued his aggressive actions disabling a second armored vehicle even though his position became the object of a heavy concentration of return fire. When his ammunition was exhausted, he went back for more and although wounded by enemy shellfire shortly afterward, returned to organize and lead his company in a complete rout of the enemy forces. Captain Baird's courageous actions and unflinching devotion to duty reflect a great credit upon himself and the military service.
Honors
Captain Cud Thomas Baird III has Honoree Record 311647, with biography, at MilitaryHallofHonor.com.
