LANCE CORPORAL
JEDH COLBY BARKER, USMC (DECEASED)

 

Medal of Honor Citation

Jedh Colby Barker, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in September 1967, was born 20 June 1945, in Franklin, New Hampshire. At the age of six, he moved with his parents to Park Ridge, New Jersey, where he graduated from grammar school in 1960, and from high school in 1964. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, East Rutherford, New Jersey, and then Missouri State College, Kirksville, Missouri, until May 1966.

On 20 June 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He was a member of the Special Volunteer Reserve, 1st Marine Corps District, New York, New York, until discharged to enlist in the regular Marine Corps on 5 October 1966.

After completion of recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, in December 1966, he underwent individual combat training and weapons special training with the 2d Infantry Training Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was promoted to private first class, 1 December 1966, while undergoing individual combat training.

In Mach 1967, PFC Barker joined Marine Air Base Squadron 21, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, San Francisco, California, and served as group guard until the following June.

Reassigned as a machine gunner with Company F, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division, in the Republic of Vietnam, he was killed in action 21 September 1967, while on patrol near Con Thien. He was promoted to lance corporal, 1 September 1967.

His medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Vietnam War 1965-1973 Medal of Honor