Vietnam: So communications wasn’t your biggest problem?

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Barnum: No, in fact, getting people to stop shooting and conserve ammunition was my biggest problem. We were calling in a lot of air support. I remember standing up on a knoll and firing 3.5-inch Willie Peter (white phosphorous) rockets to mark targets and for adjusting points. We did that until we ran out of 3.5 rounds. The enemy was moving in on us on our right flank. The VC knew we were low on ammo. God bless those helo pilots. They flew for about an hour after they were out of ammo to help keep the enemy off our backs. By then it was getting dark. Battalion headquarters informed me that we had to get out on our own. They couldn’t come and get us. Everyone else was in a fix as well. I finally got some choppers to come in and evacuate the dead and wounded. Then I had everyone drop their packs and any inoperable weapons in a pile, and I told a couple of engineers to blow it in place. I requested the battalion commander and the rest of the unit to set up a base of fire and, in fire team rushes, we started out. It is the worst feeling in the world to charge across fire-swept ground. You’re right in the open. But I told everyone, Once we start, guys, there’s no stopping.

Vietnam: How far did you have to run?

Barnum: I’d say it was approximately 200 meters. And when it came my turn, I never ran so damn fast in my life! We made it across, and once we reached the outer limits of Ky Phu we established a defensive position tied in with the rest of 2/7.

Vietnam: What did your unit do next?

Barnum: Once we reached Highway 1, Hotel Company was released from 2/7, which was going back to Chu Lai. Hotel Company and the rest of 2/9 were heading back north to Da Nang. We were boarding trucks on Highway 1 when we got sniped at from this village. An Ontos (multi-barreled 106mm recoilless rifle gun system) was with us, and I directed its fire at the sniper. We leveled three huts. Needless to say, the sniper fire ceased. Later on that night, a second lieutenant, who had only been in-country for three or four days, turned me in for using excessive force.

Vietnam: Were there any ramifications from the incident?

Barnum: Back at FLSG (Force Logistics Support Group) Bravo, when we bivouacked en route back to Da Nang, I was questioned by a lieutenant colonel about the incident. Well, I told him that I only did what needed to be done. I also informed them that everyone on that convoy had just experienced some pretty heavy combat and that the sniper fire was interfering with our retrograde movement, not to mention hazardous to our health. I soon found out that I had been put in for the Medal of Honor, so I guess that sniper incident was forgotten. I still stand by my action. We eliminated an enemy threat, and no Marines got injured.

Vietnam: How did you find out about the Medal of Honor nomination?

Barnum: A lieutenant colonel woke me up in the middle of the night at FLSG Bravo and questioned me about the battle. Not thinking that it was anything unusual, I went back to sleep. The next day I was relieved of command of Hotel Company and rejoined my artillery battery south of Da Nang. I went to the corpsman upon arrival in my battery position and had my feet checked because I had contracted immersion foot. My battery commander then informed me that I was being put in for the Medal of Honor.

Vietnam: That must have been a shock.

Barnum: It was. I was lucky; I wasn’t even wounded. My pack was all shot up. It just wasn’t my turn to go. The good Lord was watching over me.

Vietnam: When did they finally award you the medal?

Barnum: Let’s see, the Battle of Ky Phu was fought on December 18, 1965, and the Medal of Honor was presented to me on February 27, 1967, more than a year later. The award recommendation goes through channels, and that takes time. I was the fourth Marine to be the recipient of the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War and the first living officer to receive it. Sergeant Bobby O’Malley was the first living enlisted man to get it.

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