Gus Bernes letter to John L. Barkley - n.d.

Transcript

Charles D. Barger Company "L", 354th Infantry, 89th Division Charles D. Barger was an orphan and a simple Missouri farmer boy when he answered his country's call to military service in the World War. He went overseas to France after seven weeks Army training and shortly thereafter fought in several major engagements with the enemy. "Charlie" Barger proved himself in the great St. Mihiel offensive where he earned the Congressional Medal of Honor and became a National hero by his self sacrificing heroism "far beyond the call or ordinary duty". An attack had been made on a strong enemy machine gun position across a clear, flat plain. The attack was repulsed with heavy loss and the American troops driven back to cover. Many wounded Americans remained on the plain which was swept with a hail of enemy machine gun fire. These wounded comrades required immediate attention and volunteers were called for to brave the deadly fire and rescue them. Barger and Jesse Funk volunteered and raced from cover with their strecther. The machine gun fire increased but the heoric rescuers reached a wounded officer and placed him on their stretcher. Slowly they brought him back to cover and the first aid station where his wounds were attended to. The watching troops murmured with relief as Barger safely returned but their relief was brief as the same two men rushed out again to bring in another wounded comrade. Spurts of machine gun fire kicked up dirt around their feet, but they returned through the intense fire. Charlie Barger had performed the hardest and most devoted service in succoring the wounded in the open, exposed to severe enemy fire without a chance to reply to it. His Commanding Officer, Colonel Babcock, recognized his devoted heroism on the field of battle and Congress voted the heroes Charles D. Barger and Jesse Funk the Congressional Medal of Honor. Dear Lt. Barkley: I'm sending this to you at request of Mr. Edmundson and enclose both so that you may choose one you want or correct to suit. I'd hoped to see you before this and look forward to doing so on the 28th. Sincerely Gus Bernes