Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Mandeville
James
Barker
, Jr.
April 13, 1884

–

January 1, 1967

Cemetery:

Newton Cemetery

Mandeville Barker graduated from Hobart College in 1913, and was ordained an Episcopal Priest. He was rector of the Episcopal Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, before going to France in 1917 as a member of the Y.M.C.A. He was subsequently attached to the 108th Machine Gun Battalion and the 110th Infantry Regiment as a civilian chaplain. The story was told that once two soldiers of the 110th were lost in a cave for 48 hours. Reverent Barker gave a movie entertainment in the mouth of this cavern and while it was underway, the two soldiers saw the lights and thus found their way out.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Civilian

    Rank:

    Secretary

    Batallion:

    108th Machine-Gun Battalion (Attached)

    Division:

    28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    September 15, 1918
    War Department, General Orders No. 140 (1918)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Mr. Mandeville James Barker, Jr., Secretary, Y.M.C.A., a United States Civilian, for extraordinary heroism in action while attached to the 108th Machine-Gun Battalion, 28th Division, A.E.F., near Baslieux, France, 15 September 1918. Mr. Barker showed a fearless disregard of his own safety by crawling out in front of the line under heavy enemy machine-gun and sniper fire to aid wounded soldiers, whom he carried back to shelter after dressing their wounds. He also administered aid to a wounded German within 20 yards of the enemy lines and brought him in a prisoner.