Featuring Honor-Courage-Commitment
First Lieutenant
United States Marine Corps
Citation
United States Marine Corps
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepedity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Forward Observer for Artillery, while attached to Company H, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division(Reinforced), in action against communist forces at Ky Phu in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 18 December 1965. When the company was suddenly pinned down by a hail of extremely accurate enemy fire and was quickly separated from the remainder of the battalion by over five hundred meters of open and fire-swept ground, and casualties mounted rapidly, Lieutenant Barnum quickly made a hazardous reconnaissance of the area seeking targets for his artillery. Finding the rifle company commander mortally wounded and the radio operator killed, he, with complete disregard for his own safety, gave aid to the dying commander, then removed the radio from the dead operator and strapped it to himself. He immediately assumed command of the rifle company, and moving at once into the midst of the heavy fire, rallying and giving encouragement to all units, reorganized them to replace the loss of key personnel and led their attack on enemy positions from which deadly fire continued to come. His sound and swift decisions and his obvious calm served to stabilize the badly decimated units and his gallant example as he stood exposed repeatedly to point out targets served as an inspiration to all. Provided with two armed helicopters, he moved fearlessly through enemy fire to control the air attack against the firmly entrenched enemy while skillfully directing one platoon in a successful counterattack in the key enemy positions. Having thus cleared a small area, he requested and directed the landing of two transport helicopters for the evacuation of the dead and wounded. He then assisted in the mopping up and final seizure of the battalion's objective. His gallant initiative and heroic conduct reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Service.
Lyndon B. Johnson
President of the United States
Colonel Harvey C. Barnum, Jr., the fourth Marine to earn
the Medal of Honor for valor in Vietnam, was born 21 July 1940, in Cheshire,
Connecticut. He was president of his Senior Class at Cheshire High School, where
he also played football and baseball. In high school, he was a member of the Boy
Scouts of America, the “C” Club and the Gym Leaders Club.
After graduation from high school, he entered St. Anselm’s
College in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he graduated with a B.A. Degree in
Economics in June 1962.
He joined the Marine Corps’ Platoon Leaders Class program
in November 1958, and attended two summer training sessions, one in 1959 and the
other in 1961. Upon graduation from St. Anselm’s, he was commissioned a Marine
Reserve second lieutenant.
Second Lieutenant Barnum was ordered to Marine Corps
Schools, Quantico, Virginia, where he attended The Basic School until December
1962, when he began the Artillery Officers Orientation Course, graduating in
February 1963. He was then ordered overseas and joined Battery A, 1st Battalion,
12th Marines, 3d Marine Division on Okinawa. He served first as a forward
observer and then as the Battalion’s liaison officer. In July 1964, he accepted
appointment in the regular Marine Corps. Prior to completing his Okinawa tour,
he also served as the battalion liaison officer. He was promoted to first
lieutenant in December 1964.
Transferred to the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing in April 1964,
1stLt Barnum was assigned as the Wing’s Career Advisory and Personal Affairs
Officer. During Exercise Steel Pike, a landing exercise in Spain, he served as
the Wing’s Security Officer. Upon returning to the United States from Spain, he
was assigned as Officer in Charge, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing Classified
Files.
Detached in March 1965, he then served as Guard Officer,
Marine Barracks, U.S. Naval Base, Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii.
From December 1965 until February 1966, 1stLt Barnum
served on temporary duty in Vietnam. As an artillery forward observer with
Company H, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, Lieutenant Barnum’s
actions on 18 December 1965, earned him the Nation’s highest award for valor,
the Medal of Honor. He was promoted to captain in June 1966, after he returned
to Hawaii.
From March until August 1967, Capt Barnum attended the
Associate Field Artillery Officers Career Course, Fort Still, Oklahoma.
Transferred to HQMC, he served as Aide-de-Camp for LtGen Lew W. Walt then the
Assistant Chief of Staff for Manpower and subsequently the Assistant Commandant
from September 1967 until October 1968.
In October 1968, Capt Barnum returned to Vietnam where he
served as Commanding Officer of Battery E, 2d Battalion, 12th Marines, 3d Marine
Division. With the 3d Marine Division redeployment from Vietnam to Okinawa in
September 1969, he remained with that unit until the following October. For his
service in this capacity, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”
and Gold Star in lieu of a second award, the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat
“V”, the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received, the Combat Action Ribbon, and
the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Star.
Upon his return from Okinawa, Capt Barnum was assigned as
a weapons instructor at The Basic School, Marine Corps Development and Education
Command, Quantico, where he served until August 1970 at which time he entered
the Amphibious Warfare School, graduating in February 1972.
He served as Operations Officer, 2d Battalion, 10th
Marines, Camp Lejeune beginning in March 1972, and was promoted to major, May
1972, to lieutenant colonel in December 1978, and to colonel in February
1984.
Colonel Barnum retired from the Marine Corps in August
1989 after more than 27 years of service.
A list of his medals and decorations include: the Medal of
Honor, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” and Gold Star in lieu of a second
award, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V,”
the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the
Navy Unit Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service
Medal with one Silver Star, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, the
Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign
Medal.
