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Casualty Info
Home Town Harrold, SD
Last Address Harrold, SD
Casualty Date Jun 06, 1969
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Multiple Fragmentation Wounds
Location Binh Long (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Medicine Hill Cemetery - Harrold, South Dakota
Wall/Plot Coordinates 23W 082
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Casualty Occurrence: This Soldier was killed by fragmentation wounds during a hostile ambush while on a combat operation in Bing Long Province.
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Larry Hulon Barbee (ASN: 0-5344685), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion (Mechanized), 2d Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, In action on 6 June 1969 in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Lieutenant Barbee was serving as a platoon leader with his mechanized company on a battalion-minus reconnaissance in force operation west of An Loc. While proceeding through a treacherous region, the friendly element became engaged with a large North Vietnamese Bunker complex. Ignoring the enemy small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fusillade, Lieutenant Barbee dismounted from his armored vehicle as he coordinated his tracks' movement on line and directed his men's suppressive fire on the insurgents. He continually maneuvered throughout the area adjusting heavy machinegun barrages on fortifications and destroying them. When he observed a casualty atop an armored personnel carrier, Lieutenant Barbee disregarded his personal safety as he braved a hail of hostile rounds and mounted the track. While attempting to evacuate the injured man, Lieutenant Barbee was mortally wounded. His selfless courage, professional leadership, and intrepid determination significantly contributed to the overwhelming defeat of the aggressors. First Lieutenant Barbee's unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War, Service: Army Battalion: 2d Battalion (Mechanized) Division 1st Infantry Division. GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, General Orders No. 5792 (June 23, 1969).
POSTED ON 10.4.2019, POSTED BY: TIM TETZ. LARRY H. BARBEE. Larry H. Barbee was born in Texas and came to South Dakota with his parents in 1951. The lived south of Onida, SD until 1955 when they moved to rural Harrold, SD. After graduating from Harrold High School, he attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Abilene Christian College in Abiline, Texas. He entered the Army in September of 1966 and graduated from OCS in September of 1967. He began serving in Vietnam in August of 1968. LT Barbee died June 6, 1969 as the result of hostile action in Vietnam. His funeral was held at the Methodist Church in Blunt, SD.
Rodney Peters, He is from my county, 301, N., Harrison, Pierre, SD., 57501, The rest, of the story. Some die, as a hero, and there are some, that live as one, he did both, on the afternoon of June 6, 1969, 1st Lt., Larry Hulan Barbee, was on a Reconaissance in Force mission, near An Loc, Vietnam, when he was killed, trying, to save one of the members, of his platoon.' I thank God, for men like you Larry! And Thanks, is to small a word, for your example! Army, 1st Lt., Larry Hulan Barbee, was buried at Medicine Hill, Cemetery, in Harold, South Dakota, on June 16, 1969, with full Military, honors. He received, a Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, an Army Commendation Medal, and a Sharp Shooter Medal. Respectfully, Fellow vet, Rodney, Sep 19, 2008.
Comments/Citation:
Larry Hulan Barbee was born in Quanah, Texas, on October 2, 1945 to Hulan F. and Lorene (Blount) Barbee. He and his family moved to Sully County in 1951, and then to rural Hughes County in 1955. He had three sisters, Mary, Lori and Teri, and two brothers, Roger and Cary. Larry attended school in Lincoln Township in Sully County, and in 1955 began attending Harrold Public Schools. He enjoyed playing basketball and track, graduating from Harrold High School in 1963. Larry went to South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City, South Dakota from 1963-1964 and then attended Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas, until entering the Army in 1966.
Larry H. Barbee entered the service in September 1966 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and trained in Fort Bliss and Elpaso, Texas. He also took Officer Candidate School training in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1967, and gained a Jungle Expert certificate in 1968. 1st Lt. Larry Hulan Barbee was then sent overseas, arriving in Vietnam on August 29, 1968. He was a member of Company B, 2D Battalion, 2D Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. In one of Barbee's letters home he wrote, "When I get home I never want to go on any picnics," and was looking forward to finishing his education as an engineer at Abilene Christian University at Abilene, Texas. Two months before he was to come home, on the afternoon of June 6, 1969, 1st Lt. Larry Hulan Barbee was on a Reconaissance in Force mission near An Loc, Vietnam, when he was killed trying to save one of the members of his platoon.
His captain, Richard T. Altieri, wrote these words to Barbee's parents: On the afternoon of 6 June 1969 Bravo Company was on a Reconnaissance in Force mission near An Loc, Vietnam. While on this mission Bravo engaged an unknown size enemy force in a battle that raged on for five hours, and it was during this time that your son tried to rescue one of the members of his platoon in a very heroic action. As he reached the man your son was mortally wounded from a gunshot wound to his head. It may be of some comfort to you to know that your son did not suffer from any unnecessary pain To all of us in Company B, the death of your son has left a void in our ranks that can never be completely filled. I sincerely hope that you find some comfort in the knowledge that your son was an exemplary soldier and died in the defense of freedom and in the service of his country.
Army 1st Lt. Larry Hulan Barbee was buried at Medicine Hill Cemetery in Harold, South Dakota on June 16, 1969, with full Military honors. He received a Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, an Army Commendation Medal, and a Sharp Shooter Medal. Larry H. Barbee was survived by his parents, Lorene and Hulan Barbee, his sisters, Mary, Lori, and Teri, and his brothers, Roger and Cary, all of Harrold, South Dakota. source- http://www.sdvietnamwarmemorial.com/barbeelarry.htm
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase VI Campaign (1968-69)
From Month/Year
November / 1968
To Month/Year
February / 1969
Description This campaign was from 2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969. In November 1968 the South Vietnam government with American support began a concentrated effort to expand security in the countryside. This project was known as the "Accelerated Pacification Campaign."
This period covers the election of President Richard M. Nixon and a change of policy brought about by his administration after January 1969 when he announced a coming end to US combat in Southeast Asia and a simultaneous strengthening of South Vietnam's ability to defend itself. Formal truce negotiations began in Paris on January 25, 1969. The period can be characterized as marking time in preparation for an about face. Forty-seven ground combat operations were recorded during this period, the following being the most important:
(1). Operation NAPOLEON in the Dong Ha area initiated previously (1967) by Marine units, terminated on 9 December 1968.
(2). Operation WHEELER WALLOWA by 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and 196th Infantry Brigade (Light) in north-central Quan Tin Province. This ended on 11 November.
(3). Operation MACARTHUR initiated by 4th U.S. Infantry Division in II Corps tactical zone terminated on 31 January 1969.
(4). Operation COCHISE GREEN conducted by the 173d Airborne Brigade in Binh Dinh Province.
(5). Operation TOAN THANG II consisted of ground operations throughout III CTZ. This was a multi-division operation involving allied forces.
(6). Operation SEA LORDS was a coast and riverine operation. On 6 December Operation GIANT SLINGSHOT was started to disrupt enemy infiltration of materials from the "Parrot's Beak" area of Cambodia. Air operations continued to be important with over 60,000 sorties flown.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Larry Hulon Barbee (ASN: 0-5344685), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion (Mechanized), 2d Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, In action on 6 June 1969 in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Lieutenant Barbee was serving as a platoon leader with his mechanized company on a battalion-minus reconnaissance in force operation west of An Loc. While proceeding through a treacherous region, the friendly element became engaged with a large North Vietnamese Bunker complex. Ignoring the enemy small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fusillade, Lieutenant Barbee dismounted from his armored vehicle as he coordinated his tracks' movement on line and directed his men's suppressive fire on the insurgents. He continually maneuvered throughout the area adjusting heavy machinegun barrages on fortifications and destroying them. When he observed a casualty atop an armored personnel carrier, Lieutenant Barbee disregarded his personal safety as he braved a hail of hostile rounds and mounted the track. While attempting to evacuate the injured man, Lieutenant Barbee was mortally wounded. His selfless courage, professional leadership, and intrepid determination significantly contributed to the overwhelming defeat of the aggressors. First Lieutenant Barbee's unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War, Service: Army Battalion: 2d Battalion (Mechanized) Division 1st Infantry Division. GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, General Orders No. 5792 (June 23, 1969).
