This is the last of a three-part series on the Purple Heart Medal, Purple Heart Trail and the proposed veterans monument at Kane-Wojtkiewicz Park in Westfield, coinciding with the June 30 end of the fundraising campaign for the monument.
In June 1967, George W. Barnet Jr., one of eight children of George and Jenny Barnet of Taylor Avenue in Westfield, graduated from Westfield Trade High School. He had an interest in landing an apprenticeship in one of the trades, but four months later, on Oct. 11, 1967, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey, for Basic Combat Training (BCT). Eight weeks later, recently promoted to E-2, Private Barnet was sent to Fort McClellan, Alabama, for Advanced Infantry Training (AIT). At 6 feet, 1 inch, and 145 pounds, E-2 Barnet adjusted well to the physical and psychological challenges that soldiers in AIT have to endure. On April 15, 1968, he was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 11Bravo10, Infantryman and a promotion to private first class (E-3).
He graduated from AIT just four months after North Vietnam’s infamous Tet Offensive. After a brief leave at home where Pfc. Barnet said goodbye to family and friends, he headed for Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was shipped out to Vietnam.
On May 1, 1968, Pfc. Barnet arrived at Cam Ranh Bay. It was there that he was assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Division, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry (Air Mobile). After a few weeks of training, learning to rappel from helicopters and acclimating to the climate and culture, he was deployed to Quang Tri Province in the North Central Coastal region. It was there, 16 miles from the DMZ, that he finally joined his unit, which was responsible for many “search and destroy” missions deep in the jungle near the Cambodian border.
His battalion was then deployed to the A Shau Valley, one of the strategic focal points of the war. A Shau Valley is a 25-mile arm of the Ho Chi Minh Trail (a.k.a. Route 1) funneling troops and supplies toward Hue and Da Nang.
June 24, 1968: On this day, while on patrol, his platoon was ambushed by a unit of the North Vietnamese Army. After the battle was over and the smoke cleared, Pfc. Barnet found himself on the jungle floor suffering from deep shrapnel wounds to his left hand and knee. He recalls being deaf and dazed by the loud explosion of grenades and booby traps, which struck several members of his platoon, as well. Many of those soldiers were severely wounded in action (WIA) or killed in action (KIA).
Pfc. Barnet, along with many other wounded soldiers, was medevac’d to a field hospital in Da Nang. Three weeks later, wound infections resulted in his transfer to an Army hospital in Japan, where he spent 3.5 months recuperating.
After his hospital discharge, Pfc. Barnet was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia. On Oct. 10, 1969, he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army with the rank of specialist 4th class.
Spc. Barnet was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for the wounds he suffered in combat along with the Combat Infantry Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Sharpshooter (M-16), Expert (M-60 machine gun), and Good Conduct Medal.
Today, George W. Barnet is a retired officer from the Springfield Police Department, with 33 years of service. He then served eight years as a deputy U.S. marshal at the U.S. Federal District Court in Springfield.
He and his wife, Linda, married for 51 years, are the proud parents of three grown children — Neil, Julie and Jon — and two grandchildren, Liam and London Adams.
I salute this American soldier and thank him for his service to this country and community.
Michael L. Roeder, an Army Reserve veteran, is the spokesperson and treasurer of the Westfield Purple Heart Trail organization. Anyone who is a Purple Heart Medal recipient, or knows someone who is, should contact him at 413-207-2399. The Westfield Purple Heart Trail would like to extend an invitation to Purple Heart recipients to be guests of honor at the Purple Heart Monument dedication in Westfield on Aug. 7.
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