THE WALL OF FACES

LANCE CORPORAL


JEDH COLBY BARKER


served in the


UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


with


COMPANY ' F '

2nd BATTALION

4th MARINES

3rd MARINE DIVISION ( REINFORCED )

FLEET MARINE FORCE


was a posthumous recipient of the


CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR


who rests in honored glory at


GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CEMETERY


PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY





THE PROUD YOUNG VALOR THAT ROSE ABOVE THE MORTAL

AND THEN, AT LAST, WAS MORTAL AFTER ALL





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE





************************************************************


CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR


was presented to his family

on 31 October 1969

at

THE WHITE HOUSE

by the

Vice President of the United States of America

Spiro T. Agnew

We played ball together as kids, when the street lights came on the came was over and we all went home. Jedh, you died while I was there, coming home was hard, our families worked together. I visit your memory when I travel to Washington, thirty years later the memory remains.

Bill Craig

Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Company F, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division (Rein), FMF



Place and date: Near Con Thein, Republic of Vietnam, 21 September 1967



Entered service at: Park Ridge, New Jersey



Born: 20 June 1945. Franklin, New Hampshire



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.



Thanks to Kelly Jo Williams < [email protected] > for the above photograph



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--- General / Personal ---



Last name: BARKER

First name: JED COLBY

Home of Record (official): PARK RIDGE

State (official): NJ

Date of Birth: Wednesday, June 20, 1945

Sex: Male

Race: Caucasian

Marital Status: Single



--- Military ---



Branch: Marine Corps

Rank: LCPL

Serial Number: 2207369

Component: Regular

Pay grade: E3

MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 0331



--- Action ---



Start of Tour: Unknown/Not reported

Date of Casualty: Thursday, September 21, 1967

Age at time of loss: 22

Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died

Reason: Artillery, rocket, mortar (Ground casualty)

Country: South VietNam

Province: Quang Tri

The Wall: Panel 26E - Row 099