The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
BARNUM, HARVEY C., JR.
Rank and organization: Captain (then Lt.),
U.S. Marine Corps, Company H, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein). Place
and date: Ky Phu in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, 18 December 1965. Entered
service at: Cheshire, Conn. Born: 21 July 1940, Cheshire, Conn.
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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