William E. Barber

William Earl Barber
Colonel William E. Barber
Born	(1919-11-30)November 30, 1919 Dehart, Kentucky
Died	April 19, 2002(2002-04-19) (aged 82) Irvine, California
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1940–1970
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	2nd Marine Regiment 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Iwo Jima Korean War Battle of Chosin Reservoir Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Silver Star Medal Legion of Merit with Combat "V" Purple Heart Medal (2)

William Earl Barber (November 30, 1919 – April 19, 2002) was a United States Marine Corps colonel. He fought on Iwo Jima during World War II and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War.^[1][2]

Barber (then captain) and his company of 220 men held off more than 1,400 People's Republic of China soldiers during six days of fighting in North Korea. Despite the extreme cold weather conditions and a bullet wound to the leg, Barber refused evacuation and an order for his company to withdraw from their mountain pass defensive position which was surrounded. Barber, aware that leaving would cause 8,000 Marines of his division to be trapped in North Korea, held on to the position with his men, killing over 1,000 enemy troops; only 82 of his men were able to walk away after eventually being relieved.^[2]

Biography

William Earl Barber was born on November 30, 1919, in Dehart, Kentucky. He completed Morgan County High School in West Liberty, Kentucky, and attended Morehead State Teachers College for two years, prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps at age 20. Barber was married to his wife Ione for 59 years. He had three children, Sharon, Diane, and John, and three grandchildren.^[3][4]

Marine Corps career

Barber enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 1940 and completed his recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, followed by parachute training at the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey. After parachute training, Barber was designated a paramarine and assigned as a parachute instructor at the newly activated Parachute Training School at New River, North Carolina. In May 1943, he entered Officer Candidates School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and was commissioned a second lieutenant on August 11, 1943.^[4]

World War II

Second Lieutenant Barber served with the 1st Parachute Regiment on the West Coast until 1944. Assigned as a platoon commander with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, he embarked for the Pacific area and later took part in the Battle of Iwo Jima. After being wounded, twice, he was evacuated and later returned to his unit, serving as company commander during the last two weeks of the operation. Shortly after, he was promoted to first lieutenant and again commanded the company during the initial occupation of Japan. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal and two Purple Heart Medals for his actions on Iwo Jima in which "he disregarded his own wounds and directed enemy fire to rescue two wounded Marines from enemy territory."^[3][4]

Barber returned to the United States in 1946; he served on recruiting duty in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; served as a rifle company commander with the 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Inspector-Instructor of the Marine Corps Reserve's Company D, 6th Infantry Battalion, in Altoona and Philadelphia, respectively.

Korean War

In October 1950, Barber (captain) was ordered to Korea and took part in the action for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart Medal — the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in November and December 1950. He led Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment in a desperate five-day, six-night defense of a frozen three mile mountain pass vital to the 1st Marine Division's breakout to the sea. The stakes of this battle were high, if Company F did not hold its position 8,000 Marines at Yudam Ni would be cut off from the other 3,000 Marines at Haguru Ri by tens of thousands of Chinese troops. Fighting in sub-zero temperatures against overwhelming odds, being outnumbered five to one. Captain Barber was shot in the leg bone near the groin fracturing the bone on the first night of action (November 29, 1950). He continued to command his troops from a stretcher. The unit was ordered to withdraw and fight their way back to safety, but Captain Barber refused to budge. The enemy broke through the line three times, only to be rejected by Barber and his troops. On December 8, he was evacuated and hospitalized at the United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan until his return to the United States in March 1951. By the end of the battle more than 1,000 enemy soldiers were dead. Of Captain Barber's original 240 men, 82 were able to walk away from the battle.^[2][3][4]

In April 1951, he joined Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego as a company commander and later Executive Officer of the 1st Recruit Training Battalion. He was promoted to major in July 1952.

On August 20, 1952, Major Barber was presented the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman in ceremonies at the White House.

Major Barber completed the Advanced Infantry Course, Fort Benning, Georgia, in March 1954, then served as Operations and Training Officer, 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines at MCB Camp Lejeune. From 1956 to 1958, he served in Thailand as Assistant Naval Attache and Assistant Naval Attache for Air at the American Embassy in Bangkok. During the next four years he was assigned to Marine Corps Schools at MCB Quantico, and served as Assistant Chief Instructor of the Junior School. While there, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in April 1960.^[4]

Again ordered overseas, LtCol Barber joined the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan in July 1962 as Commanding Officer of 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. Following his return to the United States, he completed his college degree and served at Headquarters Marine Corps as Head, Combat Requirements Section, until January 1966 when he became Head, Marksmanship Branch, G-3 Division, and served in this capacity until July 1967. He was promoted to colonel on September 22, 1965.^[4]

Transferred to the 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Col. Barber served consecutively as Division Plans Officer, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2 (Intelligence), and Commanding Officer of the 2nd Marines, until May 1969.^[4]

Vietnam War

In 1969, he was ordered to Vietnam where he served his last tour of active duty as Psychological Operations Officer, III Marine Amphibious Force, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. For his service in this capacity, he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V."^[4]

Retirement

Colonel Barber retired from active duty on May 1, 1970. He then became a civilian military analyst for the Northrop Corporation. Barber died at his home in Irvine, California on April 19, 2002 of bone marrow cancer and he was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His wife Ione died four years later, and her ashes were interred in his grave.^[5][6]

Military awards

Barber's decorations and awards include:^[4]

Medal of Honor citation

For his actions at the Chosin Reservoir, Korea from November 28, to December 2, 1950, Barber was awarded the Medal of Honor.^[7] His citation reads:

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea from November 28, to December 2, 1950. Assigned to defend a three-mile mountain pass along the division's main supply line and commanding the only route of approach in the march from Yudam-Ni to Hagaru-ri, Captain Barber took position with his battle weary troops and, before nightfall, had dug in and set up a defense along the frozen snow-covered hillside. When a force of estimated regimental strength savagely attacked during the night, inflicting heavy casualties and finally surrounding his position following a bitterly fought seven-hour conflict, Captain Barber, after repulsing the enemy, gave assurance that he could hold if supplied by air drops and requested permission to stand fast when orders were received by radio to fight his way back to a relieving force after two reinforcing units had been driven back under fierce resistance in their attempts to reach the isolated troops. Aware that leaving the position would sever contact with the 8,000 Marines trapped at Yudam-ni and jeopardize their chances of joining the 3,000 more awaiting their arrival in Hagaru-ri for the continued drive to the sea, he chose to risk loss of his command rather than sacrifice more men if the enemy seized control and forced a renewed battle to regain the position, or abandon his many wounded who were unable to walk. Although severely wounded in the leg the early morning of the 29th, Captain Barber continued to maintain personal control, often moving up and down the lines on a stretcher to direct the defense and consistently encouraging and inspiring his men to supreme efforts despite the staggering opposition. Waging desperate battle throughout five days and six nights of repeated onslaughts launched by the fanatical aggressors, he and his heroic command accounted for approximately 1,000 enemy dead in this epic stand in bitter sub-zero weather, and when the company was relieved, only 82 of his original 220 men were able to walk away from the position so valiantly defended against insuperable odds. His profound faith and courage, great personal valor and unwavering fortitude were decisive factors in the successful withdrawal of the division from the deathtrap in the Chosin Reservoir sector and reflect the highest credit upon Captain Barber, his intrepid officers and men and the United States Naval Service.^[8]

Namesakes

The following have been named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient William Barber:

• Barber Fitness Center, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia.^[9]

• Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park, Irvine, California.^[10]

• Camp Barber, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
• Barber Bridge, Morgan County, Kentucky.
• Barber Hill, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

Further reading

• Bernstein, Adam (April 23, 2002). "Medal of Honor recipient William Barber Dies". Washington Post. p. B06. Retrieved 2006-01-05. 
• Drury, Bob; Clavin, Tom (2009). The Last Stand of Fox Company. New York City: Atlantic Monthly Press. ISBN 0-87113-993-6. 
• Smith, Larry (2003). Beyond Glory: Medal of Honor Heroes in Their Own Words. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 129. Retrieved 2007-10-23. 

External links

• "Colonel William Earl Barber, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2007-10-20. 

• Hampton, Greg R. "Captain W. E. Barber, Commander, Fox Company, 7th Marines at the Toktong Pass". CombatLeadership.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. 

• "William E. Barber, Colonel, United States Marine Corps". Arlington National Cemetery Website. Retrieved 2006-01-05. 

• "Bill Barber at Chosin Reservoir". Grunt Marine Stories. Retrieved 2006-01-05. 

• "William Barber, 82, Korean War hero who won Medal of Honor". Various news organization obituaries. Retrieved 2006-01-05. 

• "William E. Barber". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-10-20.