Posted on Jul 29, 2016
Once Denied White House Ceremony, Marine Hero Honored with Ship Naming
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It was fitting, said retired Marine Col. Harvey Barnum, that the ceremony to name an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in his honor be held at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.
Barnum, 76, said he was one of only two recipients of the Medal of Honor -- the highest award for combat valor -- to be denied a ceremony at the White House amid widespread public disapproval of the Vietnam War.
"The administration at that time did not want any more publicity about the war," Barnum explained. "So I'm told that [then-Marine Corps Commandant] Gen. [Wallace] Greene said, 'He earned it, it's been approved, and if you won't decorate him, I will.' So I received the Medal of Honor in the [Sousa] Band Hall."
The DDG-124, to be built by General Dynamics Corp. at its Bath Iron Works facility in Maine, will be Barnum's namesake.
He received the Medal of Honor for heroism while on temporary assignment as a first lieutenant in Vietnam in 1965, an artillery forward observer with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. Trapped by an onslaught of accurate enemy fire on an isolated hill, Barnum was forced to take the lead after his company commander was grievously wounded and his radio operator was killed.
He took the radio and assumed command of the company under fire, mounting a successful counterattack and assisting with the evacuation of wounded and dead troops from the position.
"An O-2 on [temporary active duty] had, in a few hours, done more and showed more courage and selflessness than most of us do in a lifetime," said Navy Secretary Ray Mabus as he announced the naming of the destroyer.
Traditional naming conventions state that Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are supposed to be named for deceased members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. In his tenure as secretary of the Navy, Mabus has received attention for defying this tradition with regularity.
The USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. will be the eighth ship Mabus has named for a living person, of less than two dozen total Navy ships named for living individuals.
Mabus told Military.com on Thursday that he does not see himself as defying tradition by naming ships after living people, but noted that he does see value in the practice.
"I think it's ... important, when we can, to honor people who are still with us and thank them for what they did," Mabus said. "In a tangible way, they can be part of that spirit for that ship that will be there long after all of us are gone."
Mabus said Barnum served in the military during a difficult period in American history and continued to serve following his military career, as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs, as principal director for Drug Enforcement Policy at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as president of the Congressional Medal of Honor society, among other posts.
"It's important for Americans today to recognize people like Barney Barnum and everything he represents," Mabus said.
Barnum said he hoped to visit his namesake ship while it was under construction and to ride aboard her after she entered service. He plans to make himself available to future crews of the Barnum to answer their questions and talk about his own experiences.
"So it's an opportunity to influence a warfighter, a warfighting ship, and it's got great capacity and capabilities," he said. "I'm just looking forward to the opportunity to mentor and show support."
@SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas , Capt Christopher Mueller , CPT (Join to see) , COL Mikel J. Burroughs , Sgt Joe LaBranche , SSgt (Join to see), TSgt Hunter Logan Capt Seid Waddell SrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom Earley PVT James Strait Alan K. @po1 william "chip" PO1 William "Chip" Nagel @SGT John McConnell SGT John " Mac " McConnell
Barnum, 76, said he was one of only two recipients of the Medal of Honor -- the highest award for combat valor -- to be denied a ceremony at the White House amid widespread public disapproval of the Vietnam War.
"The administration at that time did not want any more publicity about the war," Barnum explained. "So I'm told that [then-Marine Corps Commandant] Gen. [Wallace] Greene said, 'He earned it, it's been approved, and if you won't decorate him, I will.' So I received the Medal of Honor in the [Sousa] Band Hall."
The DDG-124, to be built by General Dynamics Corp. at its Bath Iron Works facility in Maine, will be Barnum's namesake.
He received the Medal of Honor for heroism while on temporary assignment as a first lieutenant in Vietnam in 1965, an artillery forward observer with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. Trapped by an onslaught of accurate enemy fire on an isolated hill, Barnum was forced to take the lead after his company commander was grievously wounded and his radio operator was killed.
He took the radio and assumed command of the company under fire, mounting a successful counterattack and assisting with the evacuation of wounded and dead troops from the position.
"An O-2 on [temporary active duty] had, in a few hours, done more and showed more courage and selflessness than most of us do in a lifetime," said Navy Secretary Ray Mabus as he announced the naming of the destroyer.
Traditional naming conventions state that Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are supposed to be named for deceased members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. In his tenure as secretary of the Navy, Mabus has received attention for defying this tradition with regularity.
The USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. will be the eighth ship Mabus has named for a living person, of less than two dozen total Navy ships named for living individuals.
Mabus told Military.com on Thursday that he does not see himself as defying tradition by naming ships after living people, but noted that he does see value in the practice.
"I think it's ... important, when we can, to honor people who are still with us and thank them for what they did," Mabus said. "In a tangible way, they can be part of that spirit for that ship that will be there long after all of us are gone."
Mabus said Barnum served in the military during a difficult period in American history and continued to serve following his military career, as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs, as principal director for Drug Enforcement Policy at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as president of the Congressional Medal of Honor society, among other posts.
"It's important for Americans today to recognize people like Barney Barnum and everything he represents," Mabus said.
Barnum said he hoped to visit his namesake ship while it was under construction and to ride aboard her after she entered service. He plans to make himself available to future crews of the Barnum to answer their questions and talk about his own experiences.
"So it's an opportunity to influence a warfighter, a warfighting ship, and it's got great capacity and capabilities," he said. "I'm just looking forward to the opportunity to mentor and show support."
@SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas , Capt Christopher Mueller , CPT (Join to see) , COL Mikel J. Burroughs , Sgt Joe LaBranche , SSgt (Join to see), TSgt Hunter Logan Capt Seid Waddell SrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom Earley PVT James Strait Alan K. @po1 william "chip" PO1 William "Chip" Nagel @SGT John McConnell SGT John " Mac " McConnell
Once Denied White House Ceremony, Marine Hero Honored with Ship Naming
Posted from military.com
Medal of Honor
Vietnam War
Equipment
Military History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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A well deserved and long overdue public recognition of Extreme Valor....I would take a Ship being named after me waaay over A ceremony at the White House...! But then I'm a Mariner.
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Alan K.
SP5 Mark Kuzinski - Morning Kaz....Gave it a shot at going through posts when I got home last night....Didn't last long. I think I got to one of yours though!
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This was true during the Kennedy Administration because the government didn't want the public to know about the early years in Vietnam. Most people were surprised to learn the Marines had Communications Operation in Pleiku as early as January 1962.
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When we read it much is lost. Thanks for sharing.
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 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 500 meters of open and fire-swept ground, and casualties mounted rapidly. Lt. 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 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 2 armed helicopters, he moved fearlessly through enemy fire to control the air attack against the firmly entrenched enemy while skillfully directing 1 platoon in a successful counterattack on the key enemy positions. Having thus cleared a small area, he requested and directed the landing of 2 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 the U.S. Naval Service.
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 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 500 meters of open and fire-swept ground, and casualties mounted rapidly. Lt. 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 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 2 armed helicopters, he moved fearlessly through enemy fire to control the air attack against the firmly entrenched enemy while skillfully directing 1 platoon in a successful counterattack on the key enemy positions. Having thus cleared a small area, he requested and directed the landing of 2 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 the U.S. Naval Service.
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