Summary of 521 - I Can Count to Solo

Overview of 521 - I Can Count to Solo (My Favorite Murder)

This is episode 521 of My Favorite Murder (a solo episode format). One host delivers a long-form solo story about two Black World War II soldiers — Vernon Baker and John R. Fox — whose heroic actions were overlooked for decades due to racist military policies. The episode mixes casual opening banter (beauty/hair product talk), sponsor reads and recurring segments (Honking Hoorays), but the core is a well-sourced storytelling piece about the 92nd Infantry, combat on Italy’s Gothic Line, and the lengthy, belated recognition of Black valor in WWII.

Major segments and structure

• Intro banter: Light, conversational chat about makeup, hair-care products, TikTok hair-type tips, and favorite products (Bumble & Bumble heat shield, Necessaire Rosemary Mint shampoo/conditioner).
• Solo story (main segment): Detailed narrative of Vernon Baker and John R. Fox — their backgrounds, wartime actions in Italy (the Gothic Line), heroism in the face of segregation and racism, and the decades-long delay before official honors.
• Honking Hoorays: Listener-submitted short celebratory messages read in the car segment (sponsored by Hyundai).
• Sponsor reads and promos: Squarespace ad and promotional plugs for other iHeart/Exactly Right shows (Dear Chelsea, Boys and Girls, The Girlfriends Spotlight, Dirty Rush, etc.).
• Closing: Usual MFM tagline and sign-off.

The solo story — key facts and narrative (Baker & Fox)

Context

• The U.S. Army in WWII operated under Jim Crow-era practices and segregation. Black soldiers were often excluded from combat roles, forced into segregated units, and routinely denied recognition.
• The 92nd Infantry Division (an all‑Black division, sometimes referred to historically in the context of “Buffalo Soldiers”) served in the Mediterranean theater and Italy, encountering racism from U.S. command and fellow troops.

Vernon Baker (1919–2010)

• Early life: Orphaned young, raised in Cheyenne, WY, later at Father Flanagan’s Boys Town; joined the Army after initial resistance from recruiters; became a 2nd lieutenant in 1943 and the only Black officer in his company.
• April 5, 1945 — Gothic Line (northern Italy): Baker led his platoon through mines and barbed wire, single-handedly neutralized machine gun nests, observation posts, bunkers, and destroyed enemy telephone lines. His white company commander abandoned the platoon and falsely reported them dead; Baker’s platoon nonetheless captured the objective but suffered heavy casualties (19 of 25 men lost).
• Awards (immediate): Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Italian and Polish honors. Despite clear valor, institutional racism prevented timely nomination for the Medal of Honor.
• Late recognition: After a 1990s investigation (Shaw University–led review), Baker was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton in January 1997 — one of seven Black WWII soldiers to receive it decades later. He was the only living recipient among them at the time.
• Notable quote: On receiving the honor, Baker said he “never thought about getting it at all, you know, up here.”

John R. Fox (1915–1944)

• Early life: From Cincinnati, Ohio; attended Wilberforce University and ROTC (one of the few HBCUs with ROTC then). Became a second lieutenant and served with the 92nd Infantry.
• Personal: Married Arlene before deploying; daughter Sandra was born; he shipped out about a year later.
• Christmas 1944 — Somocolonia (Somocolonia), Italy (on the Gothic Line): Serving as a forward observer in a tower, Fox called in precise artillery strikes as German forces overran the town. He knowingly directed fire ever closer to his own position to slow the enemy advance and buy time for retreating Allied soldiers and civilians to escape. His last order: “Fire it. There are more of them than there are of us. Give them hell.”
• Result: The artillery strikes killed many enemy troops (estimates between 40–100) and helped the Allies regain the area; Fox and the men who stayed were killed.
• Recognition: Not recognized immediately. In 1982 he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross; after continued advocacy by family, historians and local Italians, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1997 (as part of the Shaw University review outcomes).
• Family impact: His wife Arlene (widowed at 25) never remarried and continued to advocate for recognition of her husband’s heroism.

Other names and outcomes

• In the Shaw University–led review, seven Black WWII veterans ultimately received Medals of Honor (fifty years after the war). Besides Baker and Fox, the others mentioned: Rubin Rivers, Edward A. Carter Jr., Charles Thomas, Willie James, and George Watson.
• Local recognition: In Somocolonia, townspeople memorialized Fox decades before U.S. official recognition, illustrating how local memory sometimes preceded formal acknowledgment.

Sources and research cited in the episode

• Vernon Baker obituary (Spokesman-Review by Ken Olson)
• Black Is American podcast episode(s)
• Braided in Fire: Black G.I.s and Tuscan Villagers on the Gothic Line (author: S. Wales / Solace Wales) — used heavily for the Fox segments
• Shaw University investigative review into wartime awards and racial disparities (1990s initiative that led to the 1997 Medals of Honor)

Notable quotes and moments

• Vernon Baker: “I never thought about getting it at all, you know, up here.”
• John R. Fox (last call to artillery): “Fire it. There are more of them than there are of us. Give them hell.”
• The white company commander’s abandonment of Baker’s platoon and false report of their deaths — a stark example of how racism and cowardice impacted Black soldiers’ recognition.
• Local Italian memorials for Fox existed before U.S. honors were granted — an emotional detail the episode highlights.

Key takeaways

• Systemic racism in the U.S. military delayed or erased recognition of Black soldiers’ wartime valor; the 1990s Shaw University review helped correct some historical oversights, but many honors came decades late or posthumously.
• Vernon Baker and John R. Fox exemplify extraordinary courage and leadership under fire, despite fighting in a military and society that treated them as second-class citizens.
• Local communities sometimes preserved the memory of these acts long before official U.S. acknowledgment.
• The episode pairs serious history with the show’s usual humor and small-talk segments (beauty products, listener shout-outs), a format fans expect from My Favorite Murder solo episodes.

Recommended further reading / listening (from the episode)

• Braided in Fire: Black G.I.s and Tuscan Villagers on the Gothic Line (Solace Wales)
• Vernon Baker obituary / profiles (Spokesman-Review)
• Black Is American (podcast episodes on related topics)
• Shaw University report / press coverage on the 1990s review of WWII awards

Actionable items (if you want to explore more)

• Read Braided in Fire for a deeper look at the Gothic Line and interactions between Black G.I.s and Italian villagers.
• Search for Vernon Baker and John R. Fox Medal of Honor citations and biographies to see official records and citations.
• Listen to the full My Favorite Murder episode for the full narration and the host’s commentary, humor, and sources.