World War I Victory Medal

 

 

Criteria for Award: For service between 6 April 1917 and 11 November 1918 or with either of the following expeditions: (1) American Expeditionary Forces in European Russia between 12 November 1918 and 5 August 1919; or (2) American Expeditionary Forces Siberia between 23 November 1918 and 1 April 1920.

 

Barger’s Eligibility: For service in the armed forces between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918.

 

Battle Clasps Earned by Barger:

 

o St. Mihiel (September 12 to 16, 1918)

o Meuse-Argonne (October 14 to November 11, 1918)

o Defensive Sector (for participation in the Lorraine Sector, which included the Lucey Sector, August 4 to September 11, 1918, and the Euvezin Sector, September 17 to October 7, 1918).

 

Authorized by: War Department General Order 48, 1919.

Army of Occupation Medal, WWI

 

 

 

Criteria for Award: For service in Germany or Austria-Hungary between 12 November 1918 and 11 July 1923

 

Barger’s Eligibility: For service with the occupation forces in Germany between December 7, 1918 and May 5, 1919.

 

Authorized by: Act of Congress 21 November 1941, (55 Stat 781).

Medaille Militaire, France

 

 

Date and Place of Action: Near Bois de Bantheville, France, 31 October 1918

 

Authority: French Presidential Decree, 5 May 1919

 

Presentation: Vice Admiral F.P. Moreau, Brest, France, 14 May 1919

 

Citation: In the name of the President of the Republic, The Grand Chancellor of the National Order of the Legion of Honor issued this document to Mr. Berger, Charles, of the American Army, Serial Number 2,205,271, --Private 1st Class in Company “L” of the 354th Infantry Regiment, decorated with the Military Medal by decree of 5 May 1919. Paris, the 5 May 1919. Seen, verified, sealed and stored, No. 4.954.

 

Reason: In honor of the rescue work performed on October 31, 1918.

Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm, WWI, France

(First Award)

 

 

Date and Place of Action: Near Bouillonville, France, 12 September 1918

 

Authority: Unknown

 

Presentation: Marshal Ferdinand Foch before February 6, 1919.

 

Citation: Citation at the Army Level. Private First Class Barger, Charles, of the 354th Infantry Regiment, American, Co. “L”, Serial No. 2,205,271. For an act of bravery while on the St. Mihiel front September 12, 1918. While Private Barger was out with a raiding party one of the members of the party became lost from the rest of the party. The call was made for volunteers to go far under fire of the enemy to seek the missing men. Private Barger alone volunteered to undertake the task, and ran into machine gun fire. He located the position of the German guns and opened fire with a sawed-off shotgun, wounding three and capturing five men and two guns, besides rescuing the mission member of his Company from the German machine gun Company.

 

Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm, WWI, France

(Second Award)

 

 

Date and Place of Action: Near Bois de Bantheville, France, 31 October 1918

 

Authority: Order No. 16.043 “D”, 13 Apr 1919.

 

Presentation: Vice Admiral F.P. Moreau, Brest, France, 14 May 1919

 

Citation: Citation at the Army Level. Private First Class Barger, Charles, of the 354th Infantry Regiment, American, Co. “L”, Serial No. 2,205,271. Soldier of admirable courage and dedication, has on October 31st, 1918, on learning that two day patrols were caught between American and German trenches, with the help of a soldier and under violent machinegun-fire, on his own initiative succeeded in bringing back two officers to our lines.

Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm, WWI, France

(Third Award)

 

 

Date and Place of Action: Near Bois de Bantheville, France, 1 November 1918

 

Authority: Order No. 16.043 “D”, 13 Apr 1919.

 

Presentation: Vice Admiral F.P. Moreau, Brest, France, 14 May 1919

 

Citation: Citation at the Army Level. Private First Class Barger, Charles, of the 354th Infantry Regiment, American, Co. “L”, Serial No. 2,205,271. In recognition of an act of bravery on the Meuse-Argonne front on November 1, 1918, in which Private Barger’s company was held up by German machine gun fire. Private Barger and another soldier crawled around the German machine gun nest and opened fire from the rear with an automatic rifle, advancing as they fired, and capturing the entire crews and guns of the nest, consisting of 12 men and six guns.

 

 

 

Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star, WWI, France

(Fourth Award)

 

 

Date and Place of Action: Near Barricourt, France, 2 November 1918

 

Authority: Order number and date unknown.

 

Presentation: No formal Presentation. Received via registered mail in Stotts City, Missouri, 29 Jul 1919.

 

Synopsis: Citation at the Regiment Level. Private First Class Barger, Charles, of the 354th Infantry Regiment, American, Co. “L”, Serial No. 2,205,271. In recognition of an act of bravery on the Meuse-Argonne front on November 2, 1918, in which Private Barger defended a group from another regiment by singlehandedly fighting off repeated enemy attacks. His actions prevented the regiment from annihilation and allowed them to establish a stronghold in which they could thereafter defend themselves.

Silver Medal for Bravery, Montenegro

 

 

Date and Place of Action: Near Bois de Bantheville, France, 31 October 1918

 

Authority: Order Number 311, dated 31 May 1919.

 

Presentation: No known formal presentation.

 

Citation: By the Grace of God, His Majesty, NIKOLAS I, King and Sovereign of Montenegro, Is please to confer upon Barger, Charles D., Private First Class, for military service in the War of 1914-1918, Silver medal for "Bravery".

Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm, WWI, Belgium

 

Date and Place of Action: Near Bois de Bantheville, France, 31 October 1918

 

Authority: Order number and date unknown.

 

Presentation: King Albert of Belgium, St. Louis, MO, 21 Oct 1919.

 

Citation: In honor of the rescue work performed on October 31, 1918.

Military Medal, Great Britain

 

Date and Place of Action: Near Bois de Bantheville, France, 31 October 1918

 

Authority: British War Office Bulletin WO/338, 1919.

 

Presentation: No formal presentation. Received via registered mail, winter 1919.

 

Citation: The following are among the decorations and medals awarded by command of His Majesty the KING at various dates to subjects of Allied Powers for distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign: -- To be awarded the Military Medal (M.M.). 2205271 Private, 1st Class, Charles D. Barger, “L” Company, 354th Regiment.

Croce Merito di Guerra, WWI, Italy

 

Date and Place of Action: Near Bois de Bantheville, France, 31 October 1918

 

Authority: Given the Royal Decree 19 January 1918, No. 205, January 19, 1918, and by the Chief of Staff, Italian Army, on December 9, 1921. Order Number of the Register of concessions 89484.

 

Presentation: Received via registered mail on February 9, 1922, Kansas City, Missouri.

 

Citation: Royal Italian Army, The Minister of War, Given the Royal Decree 19 January 1918, No. 205, Determines and grants Charles D. Barger, private 1st Class, Co. L., 354th Infantry, 89th Division, The Cross of Merit of War, Washington, D.C., on 9 December 1921.

War with Germany Medal, WWI, Missouri

 

 

Criteria for Award: For service in the Armed Forces of the United States during the war with Germany, 1917-1918.

 

Authority: House Bill No. 349, 50th General Assembly of the State of Missouri, February 14, 1919.

 

Presentation: No known formal presentation. Received in June 1919.

 

Citation: In compliance with an Act of the General Assembly and on behalf of the State of Missouri, I have the honor to present you with this Medal which has been awarded you in recognition of your service as a citizen of this State in the armed forces of the United States during the war with Germany. It is intended to be to you and your posterity a token of the everlasting gratitude and appreciation of your State. Harvey C. Clark, Adjutant General.

Expert Rifleman Badge

 

Qualification Dates:

 

Ø May 1918, Camp Funston, Kansas

Ø Jan 1921, Camp Pike, Arkansas

 

Authority: Small Arms Firing Manual, Section 246

 

Presentation: No formal presentation.

 

Citation: Not applicable.

 

Note: Although the Expert Rifleman Badge during World War I and up to July 1921 appears to be the Marine Corps version of the Expert Marksmanship Badge, they are different, i.e., the absence of shoulder slings on the Army version; the phrase, “Expert Rifleman”; and, the decorative ends on the suspension bar. During World War I, Regular Army troops received the silver oxide version, while National Army and National Guard troops received the brass version.

 

 

I know about three of the incidents where he earned the Purple Heart. All of them were for heroism in action, not for wounds, even though he was gassed in October 1918. Here is what I know:

 

 

 

Glad to read this, because the first thought that crossed my mind was that the man wasn't very good at getting out of the way!

That was my first thought when I learned he earned 10 Purple Hearts! I'll tell you, trying to verify something that didn't exist was rough and it dispels a myth that has been circulating for years. Talking to my Cousin Joe, we have no idea who started the rumor, but it amazes me how a story gets out of control! Several books, magazines and newspaper articles printed this information and no one took the time to question or verify it. Well, I didn't question it for some time, so I guess I didn't help, either. But this list IS accurate. Charlie was a great hero and no one needed to embellish his awards and decorations in an effort to make him more of a hero. Just my thoughts...

Excellent update and research! One thing caught my eye: "He located the position of the German guns and opened fire with a SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN, wounding three and capturing five men and two guns," Interesting!

Thanks!

BKW

Hi Brian,

 

The 89th Division was just getting shotguns into their inventory around the time the St. Mihiel Offensive began. The 89th was known as the fighting farmers and most troops were very familiar with them. The Germans were terrified of them and said they would execute any soldier caught using one. I'm not sure if other units used shotguns during the war, but I imagine they did.

 

Thank you for the kind words and I appreciate your interest in Charlie!

 

Joe