The Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation plays a vital role in the continuing success of the Segs4Vets program. 

In honor of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Colonel H. C. “Barney” Barnum, USMC (Ret), and his continuing support of all disabled veterans, the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation provides the funding to the Segs4Vets program for every Marine and Navy Corpsmen who serve in their support.

 

Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Colonel H. C. "Barney" Barnum, USMC (Ret)

"I was Harvey's Regimental Commander at the time of his action.  In fact, I wrote the first draft of his citation.  His battalion commander called me with most of the details not long after his company got in from their patrol.

The part that really got me to thinking about THE MEDAL was the part where he was on the radio trying to get a chopper in to take out his wounded.  The way his Battalion Commander told it to me was like this:

Harvey was on the radio himself and called for the chopper to land on a small hill near the wounded men.  The pilot responded that the hill was 'too hot to land in,' or words to that effect.  Whereupon, Barney, with the radio on his back, walked out onto the hill and said to the pilot, 'Look down here where I am standing.  If I can stand here, by God, you can land here!'  And the chopper did; although the hill in fact was under fire at the time.  And Barney got his wounded out."

Col. James M. Callender
    U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)


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.