JOHN F. BARNETT, JR. KILLED IN ACTION FRIDAY, OCT. 13

The entire community was grieved Monday when the news came from the War Department in Washington, D. C., that Lt. John F. Barnett, Jr., was killed in action on Friday, October 13, in the Italy War Theatre. He was a member of the 34th Division.

Besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Barnett he is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ethel Cook Barnett, two sisters, Mrs. Grace Evelyn Ferguson, Mrs. Sunshine Edwards and one brother, Seabee Price M. Barnett, somewhere in the Pacific.

Palacios Beacon, November 2, 1944; and copied in The Daily Tribune, November 3, 1944
 

PALACIOS OFFICER AWARDED SILVER STAR POSTHUMOUSLY

Lt. Barnett Served with Gen. Clark’s Fifth Army in Italy

With the 5th Army, Italy ―Second Lieutenant John F. Barnett, Jr., of Palacios, Texas, recently was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for gallantry in action on October 13, 1944, in Italy.

He served with Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark’s Fifth Army in the 34th “Red Bull” Infantry Division.

While leading his platoon in an assault on a hostile machine-gun emplacement, Barnett was forced to deploy the men when supporting artillery fire began falling in their midst. He radioed back to have the barrage lifted and was about to seek cover himself when he heard the cry of a wounded comrade.

He immediately dragged the injured soldier into a hole, gave him first aid and was looking around to see if any other wounded needed help when he was fatally wounded by enemy fire.

Barnett’s great courage and leadership was an inspiration to his men for they not only held their objective but continued the attack and made a 1500-yard gain.

Pal      Palacios Beacon, December 28, 1944 and in Matagorda County Tribune, December 28, 1944, with headline “Lt. John Barnett Awarded Silver Star Posthumously”
 

TRIBUTE TO RECEIVER OF SILVER STAR

John F. Barnett, Jr. Died For What He, As A Boy, Had Lived

At the instance of the Adjutant General of the United States, by direction of the President, the Silver Star was posthumously awarded to 2nd Lt. John F. Barnett, Jr., with the following citation accompanying:

“For gallantry in action on 13 October, 1944, in the vicinity of ****. Assigned the mission of taking an enemy held hill Lieutenant Barnett led his platoon through a gully pounded by enemy mortar fire and then skillfully following close behind a supporting artillery barrage which kept the enemy pinned down, he succeeded in getting his men up the steep slope and to the top of the hill. As Lieutenant Barnett was leading an assault on a hostile machine gun emplacement friendly artillery fire began falling in the midst of his platoon. Disregarding his own safety Lieutenant Barnett moved about among his men, held them together and kept them from abandoning their ground. He radioed back to have the barrage lifted, but even as the shells landed all around him he dispersed his men and found cover for them in positions from which they could effectively fight back if the enemy should counter-attack. As Lieutenant Barnett was about to seek cover for himself he heard the cry of a wounded comrade and immediately went to him, dragged him into a hole and gave him first aid. Then as Lieutenant Barnett was looking around to see if any other wounded needed help he himself was fatally wounded by enemy artillery. Lieutenant Barnett’s great courage and leadership was an inspiration to his men for they not only held their objective, but continued the attack and made a 1500 yard gain.”

The award was made at Camp Hulen on May 7, 1945, by Col. Leroy E. Nelson to Mrs. Ethel B. Barnett, his wife, with Mr. and Mrs. John F. Barnett, father and mother of Lieutenant Barnett present.

John Jr., was born in Palacios, February 25, 1913. He was a regular attendant of the First Baptist Church Sunday School before entering the Intermediate Department at the age of 13. He was loyal to the church and a leader among the youth of his church, contributing much by his faithful attitude toward visitors as they came year by year to the Texas Baptist Encampment.

He entered school in Palacios and graduated from Palacios High School in 1931. He attended one semester in Terrell Prep. in Dallas, later entering A & M College where he received his degree in geology in 1936. He worked at the Barnett Lumber Company until January 1937 when he went to South America and the Dominican Republic as an employee of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. He remained there five and one half years, returning to the United States to enter the service of his country.

In August 1942, he was married to Ethel Beatrice Cook in San Antonio where they lived while he was in training at Fort Sam Houston. She remained with him during his period of training in the United States until he volunteered for, and was assigned to overseas service. He served in the Fifth Army, 135th Infantry–Thirty-Fourth Division under General Mark Clark. He was stationed in Africa for some time after his arrival over-seas. Later he was transferred to Italy where he was wounded February 7, 1944, while engaged in battle on Monastery Hill at Casino. He was in the hospital three months. After he was dismissed from the hospital he was returned to the front, although he had not entirely regained his strength. After the march on and through Rome, his feet gave him so much trouble that he was returned to the hospital in Southern Italy, where he spent several weeks.

He was returned to the front; by this time close to the Po Valley. After several weeks in action his old wounds began to give him trouble; so he was returned to the hospital for treatment. After treatment he was sent to a rest camp until the last part of August, 1944, when he was again returned to active combat. He remained in action until he was fatally wounded on October 13, 1944.

 

When friends read the words from the Adjutant General’s office how John Jr., had met death, they were not surprised that he had gone ahead of his men and had given his life that his comrades might live. Letters have come from his comrades of South America, from Europe and from friends of childhood days, expressing their appreciation of his courageous life. The words of Grenville Kleiser’s “Today,” express the creed that John Jr., the boy lived by and the cause for which Lieutenant Barnett, the man died.