[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 152 (Thursday, September 21, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING LANCE CORPORAL JEDH COLBY BARKER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSH GOTTHEIMER

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2017

  Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a decorated 
veteran and a true American hero from New Jersey's Fifth District, 
Lance Corporal Jedh Colby Barker. Corporal Barker grew up in Bergen 
County in New Jersey, and graduated from Park Ridge High School. In 
1967, Corporal Barker was assigned to Fox Company in the Marine Corps, 
where he heroically defended his comrades in the line of fire during 
Operation Kingfisher. Corporal Barker's actions on this day earned him 
the most prestigious military decoration, the Congressional Medal of 
Honor.
  I am including the Congressional Medal of Honor citation to highlight 
Corporal Barker's actions:

       For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of 
     his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a 
     machine gunner with Company F. During a reconnaissance 
     operation L/Cpl. Barker's squad was suddenly hit by enemy 
     sniper fire. The squad immediately deployed to a combat 
     formation and advanced to a strongly fortified enemy 
     position, when it was again struck by small arms and 
     automatic weapons fire, sustaining numerous casualties. 
     Although wounded by the initial burst of fire, L/Cpl. Barker 
     boldly remained in the open, delivering a devastating volume 
     of accurate fire on the numerically superior force. The enemy 
     was intent upon annihilating the small marine force and, 
     realizing that L/Cpl. Barker was a threat to their position, 
     directed the preponderance of their fire on his position. He 
     was again wounded, this time in the right hand, which 
     prevented him from operating his vitally needed machine gun. 
     Suddenly and without warning, an enemy grenade landed in the 
     midst of the few surviving marines. Unhesitatingly and with 
     complete disregard for his personal safety, L/Cpl. Barker 
     threw himself upon the deadly grenade, absorbing with his 
     body the full and tremendous force of the explosion. In a 
     final act of bravery, he crawled to the side of a wounded 
     comrade and administered first aid before succumbing to his 
     grievous wounds. His bold initiative, intrepid fighting 
     spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of almost 
     certain death undoubtedly saved his comrades from further 
     injury or possible death and reflected great credit upon 
     himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service. He 
     gallantly gave his life for his country.

  September 21, 2017 will mark the 50th anniversary of Corporal 
Barker's remarkable patriotism and valor on the battlefield during the 
Vietnam War. The Marine Corps motto is, ``Semper Fidelis'', meaning, 
``always faithful''. Corporal Barker lived and embodied that to the 
fullest. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Lance Corporal Jedh 
Colby Barker, a true American hero. His family, the Fifth District, and 
all Americans should be proud of Lance Corporal Jedh Colby Barker. His 
memory and heroism in the line of duty will never be forgotten.

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