John R. Barfield
Artillery RTO for Company A 2/12—25th Infantry Division — SP4 - E4 - Army - Regular, Caucasian, 19 year old Single Male, born on Jul 18, 1948, from Bude, Missippi, religion Baptist... Barfield’s tour of duty began on Jul 25, 1967. Barney had one month on me in country. Casualty was on Feb 09, 1968 in Binh Duong, South Vietnam. Hostile, ground casualty, multiple fragmentation wounds. Body was recovered.
Barney was a good soldier. He was a hard worker and I don’t think I ever heard him complain of any duties. I was proud to know him well enough to know his real name. Most did not.
John Stone, A/2/12 buddy
Barney wanted to do more than just be an RTO for the artillery officer. He wanted to be more involved in the actual combat, but for the most part his job prevented that. He would stay back a bit with the artillery officer for directing necessary fire support.
I
can only say that Barney was one hell of a soldier. He carried more equipment
and ammo on patrol than some guys I knew that were much larger men. He had a
great attitude about things. Barney, as I knew him, was a fine man. He had told
me on a couple of occasions that he wanted to be more involved in the combat and
we joked about him taking over my spot and me taking over his. But on the final
day when I loaded his limp body onto a waiting huey that I had called in just
for Barney, I remember saying to myself something to the effect that "he has
seen his combat". He had taken at least two hits in his lower abdomen and was
filling with fluid. He did not die quickly. Going into shock may have made it
easier on him. I really felt for him that day. I wanted to do something more in
the worst way to help him. But all I could do was get him out of there. He was
alive when I got to him but hurt real bad. I don't know for sure when he died.
It was about an hour or a bit more from the time I got to him until I loaded him
on the Huey. He was probably hit about 15 to 30 minutes before I got to him. We
were all pinned down and the Viet Cong had the upper hand with firepower.
Dan Hollister, A/2/12 buddy
JOHN R
BARFIELD
SP4 - E4 - Army - Regular
25th Infantry Division
19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Jul 18, 1948
From BUDE, MISSISSIPPI
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Jul 25, 1967
Casualty was on Feb 09, 1968
in BINH DUONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered
Religion
BAPTIST
Panel 38E - - Line 44