[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 69 (Friday, May 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING AN ORANGE COUNTY WAR HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHRISTOPHER COX

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 24, 2002

  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of a true American 
hero and a long time resident of Irvine, California, United States 
Marine Corps Colonel William E. Barber. Col. Barber passed away at the 
age of 82 this past April and will be buried today at Arlington 
National Cemetery with full military honors.
  Born in West Liberty, Kentucky, on November 30, 1919, he attended 
Morehouse State College in Kentucky and enlisted with the Marines in 
1940. Col. Barber won distinction on the battlefield in World War II, 
Korea, and Vietnam. As a young Second Lieutenant fighting on the 
beaches of Iwo Jima in 1943, Col. Barber was wounded twice, earning 
himself a Purple Heart as well as a Silver Star for bravery.
  Col. Barber is perhaps best known, though, for his valor above and 
beyond the call of duty, during the Korean War, in one of our 
military's worst defeats--the battle for the Chosin Reservoir. As 
120,000 Chinese troops swept across the Yalu River to aid their North 
Korean allies, Col. Barber and the U.S. forces were forced to fight 
through bitterly cold temperatures and to retreat in the face of 
overwhelming opposition. At the time, Col. Barber was a seasoned 
Captain in command of F (Fox) Company, 2d Battalion 7th Marines, 1st 
Marine Division.
  Fox Company and its 220 men were assigned to defend a three-mile 
stretch of mountain pass along the division supply line--the only route 
of retreat for 8,000 Marines being overrun at Yudam-ni in the Chosin 
Reservoir and who were attempting to retreat to Hagaru-ri. Outnumbered 
5 to 1 by enemy forces for five days and six nights, Col. Barber and 
the men of Fox Company fought a ferocious battle to keep control over 
the mountain pass. After two attempts by reinforcements to reach Col. 
Barber's isolated position were thwarted, he risked complete 
annihilation by remaining to hold his position rather than abandon the 
pass and strand the Marines in Yudam-ni. Despite being severely wounded 
in the leg, Col. Barber continued to lead, often from a stretcher, 
through the bitter fighting. After almost a week of constant fighting 
only 82 of the original 220 men of Fox Company could walk out under 
their own power. They had accounted for approximately 1000 enemy dead 
and held their position, but suffered dearly for their valiant actions.
  With this selfless act of bravery in the face of danger, Col. Barber 
became one of the only soldiers during the Korean War to be awarded the 
Congressional Medal of Honor--the highest military award a member of 
our armed forces can attain.
  After retiring from the Army, Col. Barber moved to Orange County, 
California where he and his wife of 60 years, Ione, lived and worked as 
proud members of our community, supporting veterans and youth 
activities at every opportunity. Col. Barber was known by everyone as a 
humble and unassuming man--a man who did not need to boast of his 
military exploits or service to his country. He was a regular speaker 
at Memorial Day events, and often enjoyed leading groups of 5th graders 
in discussion at the annual ``Walk of Honor'' events held at the Hall 
of Administration in Santa Ana, California.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to have represented this man of honor, 
one who so bravely answered his country's call three times. I am also 
honored to have had the opportunity to remember him today as he is 
buried in our nation's National Cemetery alongside so many other 
American heroes. This was a man who truly went above and beyond the 
call of duty for his country.