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Casualty Info
Home Town New Haven, CT
Last Address New Haven, CT
Casualty Date Jun 13, 1968
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Quang Ngai (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section 34, Site 2083
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Casualty Occurrence: This Soldier was killed when the chopper he was a passenger in, was involved in a collision MID-AIR UH-1D AND O-2A 12 KM NORTHEAST OF QUANG NGAI CITY 19680613
Frank Akeley Barker, Jr. was born on January 26, 1928 and joined the Armed Forces while in New Haven, Connecticut. He served in the United States Army and in 18 years of service, he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. On June 13, 1968, at the age of 40, Frank Akeley Barker, Jr. perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Quang Ngai. NOTE: Colonel Barker was the Battalion Commander at the My-Lai "Massacre," but was killed before the incident was made public.
On 16 March 1968, at about 0800, soldiers of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry of the Americal Division assaulted a hamlet in South Vietnam's Quang Ngai Province called by the Vietnamese Thuan Yen but known to the Americans as My Lai 4. On this morning, Charlie company was part of a temporarily assembled strike force called Task Force (TF) Barker, named for its commander Lieutenant Colonel Frank Barker. The mission of TF Barker was to locate and destroy Vietcong main-force combat units in an area on the coast of the South China Sea known to be a VC political and military stronghold. The company met no resistance as it assaulted the hamlet, but by noon every living thing in My Lai that the troops could find men, women, children, and livestock was dead.
According to South and North Vietnamese sources, 504 civilians were killed in and around My Lai. Charlie Company suffered one casualty, the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the foot. The company's after-action report claimed 128 enemy killed and three weapons recovered.
For over a year, the event lay dormant, but after a letter was sent to the Army and members of Congress by a recently-discharged soldier, the Army began an investigation and Seymour Hersh broke the story in the press. A number of soldiers from Charlie Company were charged with murder. All were acquitted or had their charges dropped except for Lieutenant William Calley, a Charlie Company platoon commander, who was convicted of premeditated murder by a court martial and sentenced to life imprisonment. After various reviews and appeals, he served only four and a half months. Twelve officers were accused of covering up the incident. Only one was tried by court-martial, and he was acquitted.
POSTED ON 9.11.2016. POSTED BY: WKILLIAN@SMJUHSD.ORG. FINAL MISSION OF LTC FRANK A. BARKER JR. On June 13, 1968, a U.S. Army UH-1D (#66-01016), a Dolphin slick, was dispatched from Duc Pho to fly command and control for the 4th Battalion, 3d Infantry, 11th Light Infantry Brigade. WO1 James D. Carter was the aircraft commander on the Dolphin. WO1 Jerry H. Johnson was the pilot, and SP4 Gary A. Milton and PFC Allen R. Weamer were the door gunners. The aircraft landed at LZ Dottie to pick up LTC Frank A. Barker Jr., CAPT Earl R. Michles, and 1LT Michael L. Phillips, 4/3 Infantry. The aircraft departed at 0730 hours to fly a visual reconnaissance in the area where a unit from 4/3 Infantry had reported light contact. Dolphin 016 was avoiding machine gun fire on climb out when it collided with a USAF O-2A (#67-21415) airplane piloted by MAJ David G. Brenner while flying at about 1000 feet AGL (above ground level). Both aircraft crashed. At 0745 hours, the 174th Assault Helicopter Company operations center at Duc Pho received a report that WO1 Carter's aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with the forward observer airplane. The UH-1D burst into flames on impact, the O-2 also crashing nearby. Another helicopter crew in the area observed WO1 Carter's aircraft impact with the ground and stated they did not see anyone escape from the crash. An element from A Company, 4/3 Infantry was airlifted to both crash sites. They could find no survivors at either crash site. A 174th maintenance aircraft (Witchdoctor) arrived at the UH-1D crash site and assisted in the removal of five bodies from the surrounding area. The remains of the O-2 pilot, MAJ Brenner, were recovered. One additional body (believed to be WO1 Carter) was still in the wreckage and could not be recovered due to the extensive damage to and burning of the helicopter. The maintenance crew reported no survivors in the area and that helicopter 016 was completely destroyed. On subsequent searches on 13th, 14th, and 15th of June 1968, only portions of bodies were recovered and evacuated. Of these, none could be identified as the remains of WO1 Carter. The Chu Lai Graves Registration shipped a total of six remains involved with the incident to the Da Nang US Army mortuary (there were seven crew and passengers aboard the helicopter). WO1 Carter is carried in the status of dead, body not recovered. [Taken from 174ahc.org]
Comments/Citation:
Additional information about this casualty: In 1993, a Vietnamese man searching for aluminum scrap at the crash site discovered human remains. Army investigators and a Vietnamese support team went in, and they found bits of bone and scraps of metal, fragments from the crash. Carter had been the only crew member not positively identified years earlier. The purpose of the original mission was to take LTC Frank A. Barker, Jr. to find two companies from his battalion that had been pinned down by the Viet Cong. He found them and called in Air Force aerial support. While the helicopter hovered nearby, the Air Force jets thundered in, bombing the Viet Cong. One plane got hit and spun into the helicopter causing both to crash. No one survived. Rescue crews found the Air Force pilot had been shot. From Sun-Sentinel, Sunday, October 8, 1995.
POSTED ON 5.7.2002. POSTED BY: MAJOR (RET) EUGENE M. KOTOUC. TO MY COMMANDER. I served LTC Barker as his S-2. Col Barker was without question the finest CO I served under during my 20+ years of military service. A true gentelman who held the respect and admiration of all who had the honor and pleasure of serving along side him. Rest in peace SIR. I think of you often.
POSTED ON 12.4.1998. POSTED BY: RANCE BROOKS. REMEMBERANCE LTC BARKER. I served w/LTC Barker. I was an enlisted USAF SGT working in the TOC where he was a frequent participant. Army was different and at the time, and I thought their officers to be crude. Not so with LTC Barker. I knew him as a dedicated untiring professional. A true gentleman that had the high regards of those that knew him. It is a distinct honor and high priviledge to have known and served with him. A great loss ~
Frank Barker. Son. 13407, Kintyre Ct., Matthews, NC., 28105, My Father, My Hero. I'am the only child, of Lt., Col., Barker, my name is, Frank Akeley Barker III. It is, my privledge and pleasure, to be of the same, blood, as this man. My father died, when I was only 2, he adopted, my older brother and sister, when he married my mother, Dottie Barker, where LZ., Dottie came from, so I, have no memories of him, only pictures. Everything, I have, read and seen points, to the man, that I, would have, taken pleasure, in making proud. I now, have 3, children, that I have told all, about their grandfather and we, are enjoying, spending time with my mother, who, has never remarried, because she feels she married, a perfect man and when you have had, the best, there can, be no other. I thank everyone, for their gracious, comments and know, that bravery lives, on, in all of us who, have lost. May 31, 2010.
John Sears, Salute. I was, a young, infantry man, with D-4-3, when LTC., Barker, became our Brigade, commander, in May/June, of 1968. My memories of him were, of a good, man and commander, who cared, for his troops. He would land his CC sometimes and walk with us. He would talk with the troops. He always made us feel that he cared. I understand that there are some people who make judgements without facts. I pray that his family knows that there were grunts there that thought he was a great men. Rest in Peace, LTC.. Sep 4, 2009
Description A reconnaissance in force by elements of the 1st Cavalry Division on 22 January revealed that the enemy had withdrawn from frontline positions. The task force returned after having met little resistance. Ridgway then scheduled a larger reconnaissance in force, Operation THUNDERBOLT, with each Corps using one U.S. division and one ROK regiment. The operation began on 25 January and advanced slowly and cautiously against light resistance during the rest of the month. U.N. air support destroyed points of resistance and the enemy's lines of communication were subjected to damaging attacks, which kept a large part of his supplies from reaching the front. By 30 January his resistance stiffened and it continued to be vigorous until 9 February. Then it abruptly gave way. By 10 February U.N. forces secured Inch'on and Kimpo airfield, and the U.S. I Corps closed up to the south bank of the Han River.
On the central front, U.N. armored patrols reached the deserted city of Wonju and elements of the X Corps captured Hoengsong on 2 February against light resistance. On 5 February the X Corps began Operation ROUNDUP, a plan calling for ROK units of the Corps to disrupt the regrouping of North Korean forces south of the town of Hongch'on. On the second day of the attack the ROK units met stiffening resistance, and pressure on the X Corps increased steadily as signs pointed to a large enemy buildup on its front. On the night of 11-12 February, Chinese Communist forces struck the ROK divisions north of Hoengsong and made immediate penetrations which forced the ROK troops to fall back rapidly. U.N. troops withdrew south toward Wonju and abandoned Hoengsong on 13 February. On this same day enemy forces struck at Chip'yong-ni, a road junction and key point of the central zone. The U.S. 23d Infantry Regiment and the French Battalion, forming a defensive perimeter around the town, held off a force of three Chinese Communist divisions for three days before enemy pressure melted away. Meanwhile elements of the U.S. 7th Division and ROK units formed a defensive line north of Chech'on, to check a strong enemy force attacking northeast of Wonju.
In the west the U.S. I and IX Corps were gradually taking all ground in the zones up to the Han River, except for a sizeable enemy foothold south of the Han in an area between Seoul and Yangp'yong. On the night of 13-14 February the enemy launched a powerful counterattack from this area toward Suwon, but his effort was quickly contained with heavy losses to his troops. Meanwhile areas far to the south were being harassed by guerrilla and remnants of North Korean troops. U.N. counteractions succeeded in reducing these forces to about 18,000 by the end of February.
On 18 February combat patrols confirmed a report of the IX Corps that enemy forces along the entire central front were withdrawing. Thereupon Ridgway ordered the IX Corps to move forward, which it did against light scattered resistance. By 19 February the initiative all along the front had passed into U.N. hands.
Ridgway was determined to give the North Koreans and Chinese Communists neither rest nor opportunity to reorganize. On 21 February he launched a general advance (Operation KIILER) by the U.S. IX and X Corps to deny important positions to the enemy and to destroy as many enemy troops as could be found. The objective was a line running eastward from Yangp'yong to the Han River east of Seoul, thence to points north of Chip'yong-ni and Hwangsong-ni, and thence eastward so as to secure the east-west portion of the Wonju-Kangnung road between Wonju and Pangnimni.
Advances in both Corps zones were slow and unspectacular. The spring thaw and heavy rains caused swollen streams and deep mud which greatly hampered military operations. By 28 February the U.N. forces advanced to their assigned objectives, and the Communist foothold south of the Han collapsed. By 1 March the entire Eighth Army line was relatively stable.
Although the Eighth Army had attained its geographical objectives by 1 March, a large part of the enemy had succeeded in withdrawing during the bad weather which had disrupted Allied road and rail movement. With approval by MacArthur, Ridgway planned to continue the attack northward in the central and eastern sectors with Operation RIPPER, to seize Hongch'on and Ch'unch'on and a line designated IDAHO just south of the 38th parallel.
RIPPER began on 7 March 1951. After overcoming initial resistance, the IX Corps reached the first phase line on 11 March and began the attack to the second phase line on the 14th. U.N. patrols moved into the deserted city of Seoul on the night of 14-15 March, marking the fourth time that the capital had changed hands. In the X Corps zone, terrain rather than hostile forces proved to be the greatest obstacle; but despite the enemy and natural obstacles Operation RIPPER ground forward. In the east, ROK units were ordered to destroy the remnants of a North Korean division which had infiltrated southward in January. By 17 March, with this threat eliminated, the ROK forces had moved to Line IDAHO. UN forces entered Ch'unch'on, an enemy supply and communications center, on 19 March.
On 23 March the 187th Airborne RCT dropped at Munsan-ni, about 20 miles northwest of Seoul, to trap enemy troops fleeing northward; but because of the rapid enemy withdrawal it failed to achieve its purpose.
By the last of March Ridgway's forces had fought their way generally to the 38th parallel in position along line IDAHO. Again the U.N. Command was faced with the problem of crossing the parallel into North Korea.
Ridgway, with the approval of President Truman and MacArthur, elected to continue the advance, with the hope of achieving maximum destruction of enemy forces. U.N. commanders made their plans to advance with the knowledge that the enemy was engaged in a full-scale buildup of troops and materiel for his expected spring offensive.
On 5 April Ridgway opened Operation RUGGED, a general advance toward a new objective line called KANSAS. This line, running along the commanding ground north of the 38th parallel, was 115 miles long, including 14 miles of tidal water on the left flank and the 10-mile water barrier of the Hwach'on Dam in the center. By 9 April, the U.S. I and IX Corps and the ROK I Corps on the east coast had reached Line KANSAS, and the U.S. X and ROK III Corps in the central and central-east sectors were drawing up to it. The I and IX Corps continued to advance, attacking Ch'orwon, with the intention of seizing a line designated UTAH, an outward bulge of KANSAS, so as to be in a position to strike at the ''Iron Triangle."
On 11 April President Truman relieved General MacArthur of all his commands because of differences over national policy and military strategy, and replaced him with General Ridgway. Lt. Gen. James A. Van Fleet assumed command of the Eighth Army on 14 April, replacing Ridgway.
Meanwhile U.N. forces continued to edge forward. The Hwach'on Dam was taken on 16 April. On the east coast South Korean forces captured Taep'o-ri. Other ROK troops north of Seoul sent patrols across the Imjin River and far to the northeast. By 17 April U.N. units could not make contact with the enemy, and thereafter the general advance toward Line UTAH was virtually unopposed. Even as it continued, however, evidences of enemy preparations for a counterattack were apparent to the Eighth Army Command. By 19 April all U.S. I and IX Corps units were in positions Along Line UTAH, preparing for an advance to a new Line WYOMING.