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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private First Class · U.S. Army

Charles Denver Barger

Private First Class Charles Denver Barger, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 31, 1918 near Bois-de-Bantheville, France during World War I.

World War I October 31, 1918

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private First Class Charles Denver Barger received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 31, 1918 near Bois-de-Bantheville, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company L, 354th Infantry, 89th Division. Barger was 26 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 9, 1919. Chaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing.

Barger was born on June 3, 1892 in Mount Vernon, Lawrence County, Missouri. His Medal of Honor is credited to Stotts City, Lawrence County, Missouri. Barger died on November 25, 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri, at the age of 44. He is buried at Blue Springs Cemetery in Blue Springs, Missouri.

Barger is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 78 credited to Missouri.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Learning that two 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 two trips 500 yards beyond our lines, under constant machine-gun fire, and rescued two wounded officers.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

How he died

  • Cause of death: gunshot wound
  • Age at death: 44
  • Resting place: Blue Springs Cemetery

Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Charles Denver Barger received:

Purple Heart

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Mount Vernon — map
  • Died: Oak Grove — map
  • Buried: Blue Springs Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Missouri →

Timeline

  1. June 3, 1892
    Born in Mount Vernon, Lawrence County, Missouri
  2. October 31, 1918
    Act of valor — near Bois-de-Bantheville, France
    Age 26. Company L, 354th Infantry, 89th Division
  3. February 9, 1919
    Medal of Honor presented
    Chaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing
  4. November 25, 1936
    Died in Kansas City, Missouri
    Age 44.
  5. Resting place
    Blue Springs Cemetery
    Blue Springs, Missouri

Biography

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.

From the Wikipedia article “Charles D. Barger”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Videos

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Further reading

Also honored for actions on October 31, 1918

Jesse N. Funk Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from Missouri

AS Alexander Rives Skinker Captain · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ JB John Lewis Barkley Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 John Henry Balch Pharmacist's Mate First Class · Navy World War I · 1918 AF Arthur J. Forrest Sergeant · Army World War I · 1919 MH M. Waldo Hatler Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.