Navy Federal Credit Union

(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Brigadier General Henry Anson Barber, Jr., United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during World War II.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    9th Machine-Gun Battalion

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    July 14 & 15, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 37 (1919)

    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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Henry Anson Barber, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 9th Machine-Gun Battalion, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Moulins, France, 14 & 15 July 1918. Seeing his right flank badly exposed to the enemy’s advance across the Marne, Lieutenant Barber changed the position of two of his guns to meet his emergency, performing this task during terrific enemy fire. He then ran a distance of 150 yards in the open to stop the fire of our own infantry on our troops. Going forward to the aid of a wounded soldier, Lieutenant Barber administered first aid and was carrying the wounded man to safety, when the latter died. Picking up the one remaining undamaged gun, he opened fire on the enemy, who were crossing the river, sinking one boat, killing many, and causing the others to abandon their boats.