10 Incredible Ways People Faced Up To Their Own Death

3. Thomas A Baker (1944)... Refused To Put His Comrades In Danger And Insisted On Being Left To Die, Before He Killed Eight Japanese Soldiers With His Last Bullets

Another recipient of the US Medal of Honor, US Sergeant Thomas A Baker served in the Far East during the Second World War.

While in Saipan on the Mariana Islands in July 1944, Baker aimed to protect his whole company - who were held up by machine-gun fire - by voluntarily running 100 yards behind enemy lines with a bazooka. Even though he was shot several times, Baker ensured he took out the strong point of the enemy's machine-gun line, allowing his fellow soldiers to advance.

Just a few days later, Baker's group were attacked from three sides by close to 5,000 Japanese soldiers, and the sergeant was gravely wounded. He refused to withdraw, however, instead insisting on remaining with his fellow soldiers until his ammunition ran out.

Another injured soldier carried him forward 50 yards before Baker refused to be moved any further, insisting he would rather be left to die than risk the lives of his friends. At his request, he was propped up against a small tree and given a pistol with just eight rounds of ammunition remaining.

Baker was last seen, still propped up against the tree, with eight dead Japanese soldiers around him. Even in his dying moments, Baker's shot remained impeccable.