John was born on the 10th of January 1949, in Providence, Rhode Island, but was raised in San Diego, California. Later in life, John stated that he had heard about the war in Vietnam and knew that people were protesting it, but he had put a lot of it out of his mind. At the age of 19, he was drafted into the US Army and eight months later, John was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam with Company D, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. It was his actions on the 10th of February 1970 that would later earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Baca, Company D, distinguished himself while serving on a recoilless-rifle team during a night ambush mission. A platoon from his company was sent to investigate the detonation of an automatic ambush device forward of his unit's main position and soon came under intense enemy fire from concealed positions along the trail. Hearing the heavy firing from the platoon position and realizing that his recoilless-rifle team could assist the members of the besieged patrol, Sp4c. Baca led his team through the hail of enemy fire to a firing position within the patrol's defensive perimeter. As they prepared to engage the enemy, a fragmentation grenade was thrown into the midst of the patrol. Fully aware of the danger to his comrades, Sp4c. Baca unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own safety, covered the grenade with his steel helmet and fell on it as the grenade exploded, thereby absorbing the lethal fragments and concussion with his body. His gallant action and total disregard for his personal well-being directly saved eight men from certain serious injury or death. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Sp4c. Baca, at the risk of his life, are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

John recovered from the wounds he received from covering the grenade blast and he received the Medal of Honor from President Nixon on the 15th of June 1971, in a ceremony at the White House. John exited the Army in 1970 at the rank of Sergeant and in 1990, he returned to Vietnam with the Veterans of Vietnam Restoration Project and spent eight weeks working with former North Vietnamese Army soldiers to build a health clinic north of Hanoi. One of these former NVA soldiers was taken prisoner by John on the 25th of December 1969, while he was the point man of a patrol in the jungle. John yelled at him in Vietnamese to surrender rather than shooting him because he saw that he couldn’t reach his rifle.

To this day, John has been active with causes surrounding Vietnam veterans and homelessness. He has been acknowledged many times for his work and when a park in Huntington Beach, California had been named in his honor, John read a poem he wrote during the dedication:

It's a playground for the young, a walk for the dog,
These grounds will be blessed by the rain and the sun, free from the smog.
A refuge for the birds vacationing south, "Let's visit Baca's Park."
Soon it won't be long for all to enjoy their song! My buddies and friends have joined me for this delight.
Some unknown evenings I may be sitting upon my bench enjoying the quiet of the night.
What is a park? A site of beauty, a place to rest.
A place to stay, leave one's worries, also leave behind their stress of the day.
A solitude visitor can be still, enjoy the quiet of their thought.
One can hear the voices in the breeze, trees are clapping their hands, with the movement of the leaves.
All humanity can find a space. All are welcomed to a safe, you might say sacred place.
These grounds will be a witness for families, lovers and friends who picnic, play, hold hands and maybe embrace.
It will be filled with harmony and song and the smile of God's grace.
One last thing before I depart and be on my way,
I sat on the bench and a swing in the park that was dedicated in my honor and in my name on this beautiful day.

John Philip Baca is 74 years old at the time of this recording, and he resides in Julian, California.