Medal of Honor Recipient Harvey C. "Barney" Barnum Interview

Mr. Barnum was sworn in as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs on 23 July, 2001. In this capacity he is responsible for all matters regarding the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve including manpower, equipment, policy and budgeting. Mr. Barnum was born July 21, 1940 in Cheshire, Connecticut, attended Cheshire High School, received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from St. Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps in 1962.

The fourth Marine to be awarded the nations highest honor, the Medal of Honor for valor in Vietnam, he retired from the Marine Corps in August 1989.

As a Marine Officer for over 27 and one-half years, Mr. Barnum served multiple tours as an artilleryman with both the 3 rd and 2nd Marine Divisions to include two tours in Vietnam; 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing; Guard Officer at Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor and Operations Officer, Hawaiian Armed Forces Police; Weapons Instructor at the Officer Basic School; four years at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island as Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company and the 2 nd Recruit Training Battalion of the Training Regiment; Chief of Current Operations, US Central Command where he planned and executed the first U.S./Jordanian joint exercise staff as the Commander of U.S. Forces and twice planned and executed operation BRIGHT STAR spread over four southwest Asian countries involving 26,000 personnel. Headquarters Marine Corps tours included: aide to the Assistant Commandant as a Captain and Deputy Director Public Affairs, Director Special Projects Directorate and Military Secretary to the Commandant as a Colonel. Upon retirement in 1989, Colonel Barnum served as the Principal Director, Drug Enforcement Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Mr. Barnums personal medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V and gold star in lieu of a second award; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal; Navy Commendation Medal; Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V; Combat Action Ribbon; Presidential Unit Citation; Army Presidential Unit Citation; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Navy Unit Citation; two awards of the Meritorious Unit Citation; and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (silver).

Mr. Barnum has attended The Basic School, U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Amphibious Warfare School, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Naval War College. He is the past President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

His Citation Reads:
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.