Medal of Honor: Jedh Colby Barker, Vietnam War, September 21, 1967

Name: Jedh Colby Barker
Rank: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
War: Vietnam War
Date of Action: September 21, 1967
Unit: Company F, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division (Reinforced), FMF
Place: Near Con Thien, Republic of Vietnam
Born: June 20, 1945, Franklin, New Hampshire

Summary of Action

On September 21, 1967, Lance Corporal Jedh C. Barker’s squad from Company F, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, was conducting a reconnaissance operation near Con Thien when enemy sniper fire struck. Deploying into combat formation, the Marines advanced toward a fortified enemy position but were hit again by small-arms and automatic weapons fire, sustaining multiple casualties.

Barker was wounded in the initial burst, but he refused to fall back. Instead, he remained in the open, his machine gun sending a relentless stream of fire into the numerically superior enemy force. Recognizing him as the most immediate threat, the enemy concentrated their fire on his position. Wounded again, this time in the right hand, Barker was unable to continue operating his weapon.

At that moment, an enemy grenade landed among the few surviving Marines. Without hesitation, Barker threw himself upon the grenade, taking the full force of the explosion into his body. Miraculously still alive, he crawled to the side of a wounded comrade and rendered first aid, only succumbing to his grievous wounds afterward.

Lance Corporal Barker’s final acts of valor—absorbing a grenade blast and tending to a wounded Marine in his dying moments—saved lives and embodied the very highest ideals of the Marine Corps.

Official Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner with Company F. During a reconnaissance operation L/Cpl. Barker’s squad was suddenly hit by enemy sniper fire. The squad immediately deployed to a combat formation and advanced to a strongly fortified enemy position, when it was again struck by small arms and automatic weapons fire, sustaining numerous casualties. Although wounded by the initial burst of fire, L/Cpl. Barker boldly remained in the open, delivering a devastating volume of accurate fire on the numerically superior force. The enemy was intent upon annihilating the small marine force and, realizing that L/Cpl. Barker was a threat to their position, directed the preponderance of their fire on his position. He was again wounded, this time in the right hand, which prevented him from operating his vitally needed machine gun. Suddenly and without warning, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the few surviving marines. Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his personal safety, L/Cpl. Barker threw himself upon the deadly grenade, absorbing with his body the full and tremendous force of the explosion. In a final act of bravery, he crawled to the side of a wounded comrade and administered first aid before succumbing to his grievous wounds. His bold initiative, intrepid fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death undoubtedly saved his comrades from further injury or possible death and reflected great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.