(1919-2002) Korean Marine MOH Recipient. Awarded the MOH for his actions at the Chosin Reservoir area, Korea, 28 November to 2 December 1950. Barber joined the Marines in 1940. During WW II he was a weapon¿s instructor until 1944 when he was shipped to the Pacific. Barber served with a platoon of Company E, 2nd Batallion of the 26th Marine Regimernt. He saw extensive action including at Iwo Jima where he was awarded a purple heart and a Silver Star. For three weeks he commanded Company E after his commander had been wounded and was decorated for having crawled through heavy Japanese fire in order to resuce two fallen comrades. He remained in the Marines after WW II and became a hero for his actions at the historic battle at Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. At that time he was a Captain, in command of Company F, 2nd Batallion of the 7th Marine Regiment. Assigned to defend a 3-mile mountain pass along the division's main supply line, Capt. Barber took position with his battle-weary troops and, before nightfall, had dug in and set up a defense along the frozen, snow-covered hillside. A force of many thousands of Chinese savagely attacked and surrounded his position during the night, he refused direct orders to withdraw, fearing that doing so would mean abandoning the multitude of soldiers who had already been wounded, despite the fact he only had 220 men under his command. Barber knew that if he left his postion 8,000 Marines trapped at Yudam-mi would probably be unable to join 3,000 more soldier waiting at Hagaru-ri in their dirve to the sea. Although he himself was severely wounded in the leg in the early morning of the 29th, Barber continued to maintain personal control, often moving up and down the lines on a stretcher to direct the defense and consistently encouraging and inspiring his men to supreme efforts despite the staggering opposition. Waging desperate battle throughout 5 days and 6 nights of repeated onslaughts launched by the fanatical aggressors, he and his heroic command accounted for approximately 1,000 enemy dead in this epic stand in bitter subzero weather, often reaching 20+ below zero. When the company was relieved only 82 of his original 220 men were able to walk away from the position so valiantly defended against insuperable odds, a position that surely would have fallen had it not been for Barber¿s unflagging leadership. He continued in the service and was Naval Attache in Thialand from 1956-58. In 1960 he was promoted to Lt. Colonel. In 1969, with the rank of Colonel, he served during the Vietnam War as a psychological operations officer in Vietnam where he later reported that the greatest heroes he had ever seen in war were the POWs who had been tortured. He received the Legion of Merit with Combat V for his service in Vietnam and was awarded three Presidential unit citations and two Bronze Stars. He retired after 30 years of service with the rank of Colonel. After reading all the Medal of Honor citations, Barber and those who fought at the Chosin Reservoir are among the greatest military heroes in American history. When he died in 2002 he had been married to his wife for 60 years. Barber is buried at Arlington National Cemetary. Sig. "William E. Barber-Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)"

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