Charles D. Barger

Charles Denver Barger (June 3, 1892 – November 25, 1936) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War I. He earned the medal while serving as a Chauchat automatic rifle gunner during the Meuse–Argonne offensive, when he and another soldier, Jesse N. Funk, entered no man's land despite heavy fire and rescued two wounded officers and one enlisted man.

Early life Barger was born in Mount Vernon, Missouri to George and Cora (Lake) Staffelbach. In 1897, his father, a member of the notorious Staffelbach gang from Galena, Kansas, was sentenced to life in prison for murder, and his mother gave him up for adoption. He did not see her again until after World War I. He was taken in by Sidney and Phoebe (Owens) Barger, who eventually adopted him, and he grew up in Stotts City, working as a farmhand. Having earned the Expert Rifleman Badge during training, he was selected as an automatic rifle gunner upon reaching France.

General John J. Pershing presenting the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Charles D. Barger, of Company I, 354th Infantry, 89th Division, outside Pershing's headquarters at Chaumont, France, February 1919.

Barger served in the St. Mihiel Offensive, but it was during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that he really proved his mettle. The 177th Brigade, to which he was assigned, was situated on the southwest edge of Bois-de-Bantheville, France, during the last couple of weeks of October 1918. For more than a week, the enemy fired high-explosive shells, often containing mustard gas, and gas fumes lingered for days. No one escaped the effects, although some suffered more than others and required medical treatment or evacuation. Barger never reported for medical treatment, so was not allotted a wound chevron for his affliction.

Later years and death Barger returned to farming with his adopted uncle, Henry McFerron, and later as a construction worker in Waco, Missouri, but had a rough time making ends meet. He had difficulty adjusting to civilian life and struggled to stay employed.

While stationed in Arkansas, Barger married Audrey E. Hurst in Hardy, Arkansas, on March 2, 1921, and on June 6, 1922, they had a son named Charles Denver Barger Jr. This marriage was short-lived, and he went on to marry Ruth Irene Bailey. They had two children, Joseph Elmer Barger, born on January 25, 1925, and Mabel Louise "Dodi" Barger, born on April 13, 1928.

Barger recovered from his injuries, but his head wound coupled with the effects of mustard gas and post-traumatic stress eventually took its toll on his physical and mental health. He remained with the police force for twelve years before they let him go with no compensation or pension.

For the next few years Barger did whatever he could to make ends meet, but every day was a struggle. He raised rabbits to put meat on the table, planted a garden, and, against everything he believed in, accepted charity from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the only two agencies that stood by him through the years. "It's fine to have all the medals," he lamented, "but the trouble is you can't eat them."

In the spring of 1936, Barger moved to a farm four miles southwest of Oak Grove, outside of Kansas City, and began working for the Civilian Conservation Corps in Blue Springs.

On the night of November 23, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office were called to his home where they found him wielding a large hunting knife and setting fire to his farmhouse. He had three self-inflicted wounds to his throat, and the deputies reported that "his clothing was torn and his body burned in a dozen places." When the officers attempted to arrest him for threatening to kill his wife, he lunged at them with the knife. Deputy Frank Ridenour fired in self-defense, inflicting a non-life-threatening wound to Barger's right thigh. He was taken to the Kansas City General Hospital and died two days later from third-degree burns to his face and arms. He was buried at Blue Springs Cemetery in Blue Springs, not far from his Oak Grove home.

Medal of Honor citation Medal of Honor Presentation Ceremony - February 9, 1919, at Chaumont, France. General John J. Pershing presided. Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company L, 354th Infantry, 89th Division. Place and date: Near Bois-deBantheville, France, 31 October 1918. Entered service at: Stotts City, Mo. Birth: Mount Vernon, Mo. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 20 (January 30, 1919).

Citation:

Learning that 2 daylight patrols had been caught out in No Man's Land and were unable to return, Pfc. Barger and another stretcher bearer upon their own initiative made 2 trips 500 yards beyond our lines, under constant machinegun fire, and rescued 2 wounded officers.

1st row Medal of Honor Purple Heart w/ one silver and four bronze oak leaf clusters 2nd row World War I Victory Medal w/ three bronze service stars (to denote credit for the St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector battle clasps) Army of Occupation of Germany Medal Military Medal (Great Britain) 3rd row Médaille militaire (French Republic) Croix de guerre 1914–1918 w/three bronze palms and one bronze star (French Republic) Order of Leopold degree of Knight (Belgium) 4th row Croix de guerre w/ bronze palm (Belgium) Croce al Merito di Guerra (Italy) Medal for Military Bravery (Kingdom of Montenegro)