Harvey Barnum

[Inspector Cluseo]

It was my honor to have met Col. Barnum (LtCol then) in 79' as a young Sgt., I was more impressed after getting to know him and he remains one of my hero's today at age 50.



The President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes [CENTER][/CENTER]pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

[CENTER][/CENTER]FIRST LIEUTENANT HARVEY C. BARNUM, JR.
[CENTER][/CENTER]UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


[CENTER][/CENTER]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 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.

[Frog]

"Barney" Barnum is now the Asst Sec of the Navy for Reserve Affairs and works in the Pentagon. I drank a few beers with him in the past and now and again. What a great guy!

[Inspector Cluseo]

Originally Posted by Frog

"Barney" Barnum is now the Asst Sec of the Navy for Reserve Affairs and works in the Pentagon. I drank a few beers with him in the past and now and again. What a great guy!

Well I'm glad he is still in the game where he can do good for Marines,
he was taking command of 2nd Bn MCRD Parris Island last I saw of him.
I served in 2/9 with a few Senior NCO's that were deployed during the
aboved referenced time period...and they too were impressed to say the
least.
Cheers to "Barney"

[jsmurphy]

He is a hell of a guy.

I met him while working on the Korean War Veterans Memorial video in DC.

He went back to Vietnam several years ago and told his story at the exact spot of the firefight. I was supposed to go and shoot video for that trip but the funding fell through.

Great man.

I recently listened to an interview with him:

http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.o...rveyBarnum.jsp

An absolutely remarkable man. What an honor it must have been to have served with him.

- Dave

[Inspector Cluseo]

I read this quote from Col Barnum in an article a while back, I know we are all proud of our branches but it made me proud to have been part of the Marine Corps in some small way-any jarhead can appreciate it.:D
It comes from an interview with a magazine call "Vietnam".



Vietnam: Why did you decide on the Marine Corps?

Barnum: Two reasons. My cousin was in the Marines during World War II, and my dad enlisted, but the age law was passed and my dad didn't go, which was a good thing because everyone from his recruit platoon on Parris Island went to Iwo Jima. However, another thing that really turned the tide for me was Military Day during my senior year in high school. Every branch of the service had a representative come to the high school to try and recruit young men. Well, the Air Force recruiter got up to make a pitch, and there were a lot of catcalls. Then the Army and Navy recruiters got the same treatment. A Marine gunnery sergeant was the last one to get up to speak in the auditorium. He said, "There isn't anybody in this room I would want in my Marine Corps." Then he tore into the faculty, accusing them of "jawjacking and scratching their butts while all this turmoil was going on" and saying, "This is embarrassing." He concluded by saying, "I'm wasting my time here," and he sat down.

Vietnam: Sounds like a typical Marine Corps "gunny" to me.

Barnum: Well, needless to say, there was a line at his table after the presentation. I joined the Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) in college and took my training at Quantico, Virginia, in 1959 and 1961. I was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from college in 1962 and commenced my officer training at Quantico.