If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Casualty Info
Home Town Ft Recovery, OH
Last Address Ft Recovery, OH
Casualty Date May 17, 1966
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location Vietnam, South (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Forest Lawn Gardens - Anniston, Alabama
Wall/Plot Coordinates 07E 067
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Casualty Occurrence: This Soldier died from hostile small arms fire LZ HEREFORD AND HILL 766, 7 KM EAST-NORTHEAST OF VINH THANH 1966 MAY16-18 in Binh Dinh Province.
He entered Service on 15 May 1961. Sgt.Sammy Alva Barga died gallantly in the service of his country on Tuesday May 16,1966 in Vietnam. He had been there 9 months, serving with the First Calvary Division. He was buried with full Military rites on May 23,1966, here in Forestlawn Gardens.
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Martha Sessums Barga(my Dad's sister,my Aunt);one daughter, Sue Arlene,one stepdaughter, Lea Denise Sessums;one stepson,John F. Sessums,Jr, all of Anniston;his parents, Mr.& Mrs. Alva C.Barga of Fort Recovery, Ohio; five sisters; Mrs.Dale Persley, Mrs.Alice Gubbenbiler, Mrs. Betty Wray, Mrs. Mary Newman and Mrs. Thelma Nelson, all of Ohio; seven brothers; Robert, Eugene, George, Richard, Francis, Herman, and Albert, all of Ohio. His last rites were held at the WAC Chapel at Fort McClellan with Father Buckley officiating. There is no greater service a person can do, than to give his life to his loved ones and his country (even as OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST gave his life for us).
Comments/Citation:
We give Thanks to you SGT Sammy Barga, MAY GOD BLESS YOU and ALL THE OTHERS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR ALL FOR THEIR COUNTRY AND LOVED ONES. S/SGT James "Randy" Wright USAF (1951-1955).
1921 to 1933 the Division was structured around the horse riding concept in defined Regiments.
1933 to 1943 the Division was structured around the Triangle mechanized and motorized concept.
1943 to 1949 the Division was changed to the square concept as mainly a Infantry Division for fighting in the jungles of the Pacific.
1949 to 1957 The Division was changed to the Triangular Division. The 5th, 7th and 8th Cavalry Regiments were retained and the 12th Cavalry Regiment was deactivated. This was for Korean War and duty on the Korean DMZ.
1957 to 1964 The Division was changed to the Pentomic structure into Battle Groups
1965 to 1971 The Division became Air Mobile structure as they deployed to Vietnam.
1971 to 1975 The Division was configured into the TRICAP (Triple Capability) Division was organized with Armored, Infantry and Air Cavalry Brigades.
1975 to 2001 The division was converted to an Armored Division.
2001 to 2005 The Division had initiated a series of unit change overs of the division organization and equipment replacements to support and field the FORCE XXI integrated combat system capabilities.
2005 to 2013 The division Division was reorganized and transitioned to a (Modular) Modified Table of Organization and Equipment (MTOE) Unit of Action.
2013 to 2016 The Division implementing ARFORGEN, a transformational force generation model. This returned the Division Artillery, The 4th BCT was inactivated, The Sustainment Brigade was renamed and added, All STBs within the Division were inactivated.
2016 to present The Army announced a pilot program, 'associated units', in which a National Guard or Reserve unit would now train with a specific active Army formation. These units would wear the patch of the specific Army division before their deployment to a theater.