David Bennes Barkley (1899 - 1918)

Born 31 Mar 1899 in Laredo, Webb County, Texas, United States

Died 9 Nov 1918 at age 19 in Meuse River, France

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Biography

Space: Texas in The Great War

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Biography

MOH

David Barkley was awarded the Medal of Honor.

David Barkley was awarded the Purple Heart.

David Barkley was awarded the Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 (France).

David Barkley was awarded the War Merit Cross.

Private David Barkley served in the United States Army in World War I
Service started: 23 Apr 1917
Unit(s): Company A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division
Service ended: 9 Nov 1918 (KIA)

Private David Barkley was Killed in Action during World War I.

Private David Bennes Barkley

Tribute video by Anthony Johnson to Private Barkley on youtube.com

French Croix de Guerre

Lifetime Achievement: Private Barkley was the first Mexican-American to receive the Medal of Honor and he was one of three native Texans to receive the Medal of Honor for actions during the Great War.

Place of burial: San Antonio National Cemetery^[1]

Allegiance: United States of America

Service/branch: United States Army

Company A, 356th Infantry, Eighty-ninth Division.

Years of service: 1917 - 1918

Rank: Private

Unit: Company A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division

Battles/wars: World War I

Decorations:

Medal of Honor

Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

World War I Victory Medal

Croix de Guerre

Croce al Merito di Guerra

Private Barkley was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, one of three Texans to be awarded the Medal of Honor during World War I. Additionally, he was awarded the purple heart with one oak leaf cluster, World War I Victory Medal, French Croix de Guerre with two Palm medals, and Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra.

Parents: Joseph and Antonia Cantu Barkley

Medal of Honor Recipients, State of Texas, United States of America^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

Congressional Medal of Honor Citation

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private David B. Barkeley (ASN: 1488756), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division, at Pouilly, France, on 9 November 1918. When information was desired as to the enemy's position on the opposite side of the Meuse River, Private Barkeley, with another soldier, volunteered without hesitation and swam the river to reconnoiter the exact location. He succeeded in reaching the opposite bank, despite the evident determination of the enemy to prevent a crossing. Having obtained his information, he again entered the water for his return, but before his goal was reached, he was seized with cramps and drowned.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #7862494 Private Barkley
2. ↑ Texas State Cemetery website MOH listings
3. ↑ Congressional Medal of Honor Society's website
4. ↑ U.S. Army Center for Military History website
5. ↑ Army Medal of Honor Recipients on valor.defense.gov
6. ↑ Find A Grave Claim to Fame Medal of Honor Recipients on findagrave.com
7. ↑ Hall of Valor Project - David B. Barkeley

David Bennes Barkley on Wikipedia

Private Barkley bio on Handbook of Texas Online

Private Barkley on Texas State Cemetery website

Private Barkley on honorstates.org

Private Barkley on militaryhallofhonor.com

"Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-JL1L : 3 April 2015), David B Barkeley, 23 Apr 1917; citing Military Service, , , Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.

• "United States, Enlisted and Officer Muster Rolls and Rosters, 1916-1939", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D7J-QBV8 : 28 January 2022), David B Barkeley, 1917.
• Ancestry.com. U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Interment Control Forms, 1928–1962. Interment Control Forms, A1 2110-B. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland. Ancestry Record 2590 #2109670
• 2 Officers, 19 Enlisted Men Win Highest Military Decoration, El Paso Herald, El Paso, Texas, 04 Feb 1919, Tue • Page 1
• Soldier After Whom Camp is Named Died as War Hero, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas, 14 Jan 1941, Tue • Page 11