35th Infantry (Cacti) Regiment Association


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  PV2 Vernon Byron Baird    In memory of our fallen brother

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"



King Company
35th Infantry Regiment
Korean War


"Not For Fame or Reward
Not For Place or For Rank
But In Simple Obedience To
Duty as They Understood It"

National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal United Nations Korean Service Medal Republic of Korea War Service Medal



The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PV2 Vernon Byron Baird, US56056219, who died in the service of his country on September 7th, 1951 in North Korea. The cause of death was listed as KIA. At the time of his death Vernon was 22 years of age. He was from Visalia, California. Vernon's Military Occupation Specialty was 4745-Light Weapons Infantryman.

The decorations earned by PV2 Vernon Byron Baird include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.


Private Baird was a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on September 7, 1951. Private Baird was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.

Vernon came into the 35th Regiment with a group of replacements in time for a fierce battle in what was known as the Iron triangle in north Korea. It commenced on September 6th on outpost 717-682 when three regiments of Chinese surrounded this outpost and the defenders were forced to fight to escape the encirclement. Many were casualties.

BURIAL LOCATION:VISALIA CEMETERY, VISALIA, CA