Name David Barkley Years of service 1917 - 1918 Died November 9, 1918, Meuse | Rank Private Nationality American Battles/wars World War I Battles and wars World War I | |
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Born March 31, 1899
Laredo, Texas ( 1899-03-31 ) Allegiance United States of America Place of burial San Antonio National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas, United States Awards Medal of Honor, Croix de Guerre, War Merit Cross People also search for Solon D. Neal, Nicholas M. Nolan | ||
Service/branch United States Army | ||
David Bennes Barkley, also known as David B. Barkeley Cantu (March 31, 1899 – November 9, 1918), was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during World War I in France. After successfully completing a scouting mission behind he swam back across the Meuse River.
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Biography
Barkley was born in Laredo, Webb County, Texas to Josef Barkley and the former Antonia Cantu. He grew up with his Mexican-American mother and younger sister after his father left the family. He enlisted in the Army when the United States entered what was then known as the Great War. He used his Anglo father's name to avoid being segregated into a non-combat unit.
As a part of Company A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division in France, he and Sergeant M. Waldo Hatler swam across the Meuse River near Pouilly-sur-Meuse to get behind German lines and gather information about troop strength and deployments. They were able to gather the needed information; however, returning across the river, Barkley was "seized with cramps and drowned". (This is the exact wording from his citation, duplicated below.) Sergeant Hatler survived to bring the information back to their unit.
Barkley was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, one of three Texans to be awarded the Medal of Honor during World War I. Additionally, France awarded him the Croix de Guerre, and Italy the Croce al Merito di Guerra.
Private Barkley lay in state at the Alamo, the second person to ever receive this honor. He was then buried at the San Antonio National Cemetery.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division. Place and date: Near Pouilly, France, November 9, 1918. Entered service at: San Antonio, Tex. Birth: Laredo, Tex. G.O. No.: 20, W.D., 1919. Citation
When information was desired as to the enemy's position on the opposite side of the Meuse River, Pvt. Barkeley, with another soldier, volunteered without hesitation and swam the river to reconnoiter the exact location. He succeeded in reaching the opposite bank, despite the evident determination of the enemy to prevent a crossing. Having obtained his information, he again entered the water for his return, but before his goal was reached, he was seized with cramps and drowned.In memory
Barkley has received three notable posthumous recognitions. In 1921, an elementary school in San Antonio, Texas, was named in his honor. On January 10, 1941, the U.S. Army installation, Camp Barkeley, was named in his honor. A clerical error resulted in the discrepancy in spelling. Finally, in 1989 when his Hispanic background was discovered, Barkley was recognized as the U.S. Army's first Hispanic Medal of Honor recipient.
David B. Barkley Plaza
A memorial honoring the forty-one Hispanic soldiers who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor was built in Laredo in 2002 and named for Barkley. The David B. Barkley Plaza has a bronze statue of David B. Barkley and an American flag measuring 100 ft by 50 ft and is 308 ft tall making it the tallest flagpole in the United States. The memorial is located at 27°30′22″N 99°30′8″W.
The restored chapel at Laredo Community College is also named in Barkley's honor. Memorial Day and Veterans Day services are held there each year.
Awards and decorations
David Bennes Barkley's awards and decorations include the following: