May 28, 201214 yr #1 Hello all, I have a memorial day and November 10th ritual. Every year on two occaissions I go to the tiny town of Paoli, Oklahoma to pay tribute to Private Barney Kinney of the 23rd Co. 6th Machine Gun battalion. Barney was attached to the company on June 22, 1918 during the tail end of the Belleau Wood campaign. He served with the company through every campaign and on November 10, 1918 while the 23rd was providing cover for the crossing of the Meuse River. 2nd Battalion 5th Marines were assigned to cross with them that night across pontoon bridges. The 23rd Co was billeted to cover any necessary withdrawal back across the river but only one gun crew managed to successfully get across the river. In all 5 members of the 23rd Co. were killed and 10 were wounded. Among those killed between 9am and 11pm that night was Private Barney Kinney. About 6 or 7 yeas ago I discovered Barney's picture in the Oklahoma historical society's file and upon investigating found his grave in the Paoli Cemetery out in the middle of no where. It took a good 2 1/2 hours to find the grave since the cemetery director was also the mayor and ran a fruit stand in town (I'm not even kidding). Needless to say I found the grave covered with lichen and heavily worn. Both his parents rest next to their beloved boy. His mother died in 1965 at age 90. His father died in 1949. I figured this is an appropriate day for this post. Semper Fi, Kevin
May 28, 201214 yr Author #2 As I am sure most of you notice they actually have him as a member of the 6th Marines when in actuality he was a member of the 6th Machine Gun battalion.
May 28, 201214 yr Author #3 According to Cpl. Edward F. O'Day, the company clerk, "Pvt. Barney E. Kinney, USMC was killed in action while serving against the enemy, in the Argonne sector, November 10, 1918 by shell fire. He was buried the same date. Coordinates of grave on map of Stenay, 306.2-310.85. No last words recorded." According the the official grave location tag, Kinney was actually buried November 13th, which is more believable to me than the date of his death given that he was likely killed the night of November 10th Coordinates on that record are given as 306.2-310.85 as well.
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