David B. Barkley

David Bennes Barkley
Allegiance	U.S. Army
Rank	Private
Unit	356th Infantry, 89th Division
Battles / wars	World War I
Awards	Medal of Honor Croix de Guerre Croce Merito (Italy)

David Bennes Barkley (c. 1899-1918) was a United States Army private who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during World War I.

Barkley was born in Laredo, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army when the United States entered World War I. As a part of Company A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division in France, he and another volunteer swam across the Meuse River to get behind German lines and gather information about troop strength and deployments. Both soldiers accomplished their mission; tragically, returning across the river, Barkley succumbed to muscle cramps and drowned on November 9, 1918.

Barkley was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. He was one of three Texans to be awarded the Medal of Honor for action during World War I .

Private Barkley lay in state at the Alamo, the second person receive this honor. He was then buried at the San Antonio National Cemetery.

In memory

In 1921, an elementary scholl in San Antonio, Texas was named in his honor.

On January 10, 1941, the U.S. Army installation, Camp Barkeley . was named in his honor. (Note, a clerical error resulted in the discrepancy in spelling.)

In 1989, during Hispanic Heritage Week, Barkley was recognized at the U.S. Army's first Hispanic Medal of Honor recipient .

References

• Myers, James M. (2001). "Barkley, David Bennes". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2006-07-14.

External links

• David Barkley, World War I Medal of Honor, MedalOfHonor.com. Retrieved on 2006-07-14.
• Camp Barkeley. Retrieved on 2006-07-14.