Superscout ( Brice H. Barnes ) AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
 

We ( Vietnam Vets in particular ) spend a lot of time on here beating each other up about politics and other stuff. We sometimes forget all that we have in common. As Sis as so eloquently stated, if we could all just talk to each other, life would be so much simpler. Anyway, I have obtained a copy of Keith Nolan's book "The Battle for Siagon : Tet 1968"... a great read, as are all of his books. Our Superscout is featured on pages 211 - 13, 214, 215 - 216, 217, 218, 220 - 221, 223 - 24, and 257. I am going to include a few items I noted in the book, and the citation is below. I just want to say THANKS for your service. A great big HUG and a WELCOME HOME SOLDIER, JOB WELL DONE !!!!

( if I mis-stated something Brice, please let me know. Thanks. )

--- pivot kicked a VC with AK47 knocking the gun out of his hand and taking him prisoner, after his M16 failed to fire.

--- carried a woman, child, and small boy ( all at the same time ! ), and all civilians, through a hail of gunfire and to safety.

--- fought in two separate firefights on this day, the last one for four hours.

--- On two occasions directed Cobra and Huey gunships by hand signals from the ground.

--- was wounded by a close up VC hand grenade blast during the second firefight.

--- may have helped prevent the execution of 30 POWs by our MPs.

--- got between Scouts and MPs after the MPs killed a Scout when the MPs lost control and started shooting everything that moved.....preventing "friendly-fire" bloodshed.

---- the second firefight of the day started with an ambush of eight APCs. The first two tracks ( Brice was on the first one ) passed. The third was hit by three RPGs. Tracks four and five received broadside RPG hits, while track six turned to fire and then was hit by another RPG.

--- Thirteen soldiers won the Distinguished Service Cross in and around Saigon that day, including Brice.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.


http://www.kerrypardue247.com/Scouts-DSC.html


First Lieutenant Brice H. Barnes
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES ARMY VIETNAM
APO SAN FRANCISCO 96375
GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 2034
3 May 1968
AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced.
BARNES, BRICE H. 02326319 FIRST LIEUTENANT INFANTRY United States Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, APO 96370
Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross
Date Action: 31 January 1968
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
Reason: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. First Lieutenant Barnes distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 as a scout platoon leader while defending against the communists Lunar New year offensive. Enemy forces gained control of Widow's Village and entrenched themselves in its northeast sector. Lieutenant Barnes took command of all friendly forces in the town and launched a fierce assault on the insurgents. Repeatedly disregarding his safety, he braved withering fire to direct civilians in the battle area to safety. Bullets struck all around him, but he refused to take cover and led a house to house sweep, personally destroying a recoilless rifle and an automatic weapon position. His platoon's aggressive assault and relentless fire forced the Viet Cong to withdraw. Later in the day his unit was sent to the nearby village of Ho Nai. His platoon was quickly engaged by a hostile force firing machine guns, recoilless rifles and automatic weapons. Caught in the murderous crossfire, Lieutenant Barnes dismounted his personnel carrier and moved among his men to direct their counterfire on the enemy. Part of his platoon became isolated and pinned down by the intense Viet Cong barrage, and he exposed himself to a hail of bullets and shrapnel to direct gun ship strikes on the enemy positions surrounding the beleaguered element. His fearless leadership and heroic actions inspired his men to fight furiously and inflict a decisive defeat on the numerically superior and determined Viet Cong forces, resulting in seventy-seven enemy killed and ten captured. First Lieutenant Barnes' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United Sates Army.
Authority: By direction of the President under provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 25 July 1963.

BRICE
 

I knew about this award already. Don't even remember how, now. I was always curious about the contents of the citation, but never wanted to put you on the spot by asking. I'm glad Larry found this. I'm proud to "know" you, Sir.

Superscout,

Now that I know, it makes me feel 100% better to know that you are in Tx and alive.

You are one in a handfull of truth about Officers.

SALUTE!!!!!!!! SIR!!!!!!

enough........

Reeb -
Thank you for posting this thread... I learned about the award from Doc.2/47 (Hal) awhile back... Scout was and is quite a guy; Liege Emperor of the Sacred Holy Interior Team.

Sir Blue

Great read Larry, thanks for the posting.

SS...thank you for your service and welcome home!

Trav

I should of have known!
 

SuperScout,

Has always been a hero in my eyes. Maybe its because we agree so much.

Thanks for your sacrifice:

Keith

Thank you Sir and Welcome Home. It has been an honor to be in your company.





http://pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys...ns3/HORSE2.GIF

Larry,

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to honor our brother.

I left the History Channel because I saw them allow a creature less than human hurl insults and foul language atScout. I wrote them off as in league with the devil for not responding to my pleas to take control of the situation after explaining the sacrifice and service that Scout and othershad rendered to this country.

I feel as thoughbyhonoring him here todaythat some justice has been done for our brother.

Peace :a:

http://pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys...ns3/HORSE2.GIF

AND you know
 

his response to this "I just did my job",
and he did it damn well!!!!!
SF
NC

Larry and all
 

It's true, I was just doing my job. Or doing those things that I now see that My Lord wanted me to accomplish, so that I could do something worthwhile with my life, by serving others.

Larry,

Thanks for alerting me to this site; I have been familiar with it for some time, starting when it was brought to my attention by a fellow Viet vet. As it turns out, Dreisler, or whatever his name is, is one of two very bitter people, who thought they should have been recognized for their efforts in Widows' Village. Nolan, the author of the book in question, did in fact take a little bit of "peotic license" in the writing of that particular battle. When his quote was brought to my attention, I wrote an apology as best I could, citing the truth that it was not my intention to disparage, malign, or harm anyone involved. This apology was scorned by those so still embittered, that they continued to try to dishonor my Scouts by writing how we executed prisoners, intentionally burned down houses, and other actions that I consider war crimes. As I wrote later, you can print anything you want to about me, but when you impugn the honor and integrity of my Scouts, I take no prisoners. These were MY men, and I'll go to my grave, and maybe take some with me, before I allow anybody to utter one evil word about them.

One guy wrote an article, offering his viewpoint, but it was so filled with factual errors, hateful accusations, and outright lies that it was pulled from publication in "Vietnam" magazine. And at one of our reunions, these little group of angry and bitter men almost got their collective asses kicked when some of the Scouts heard what they were spouting. Not surprisingly, none of them showed up at the reunion we had last April, at Ft. Benning.

And finally, I did not seek this exposure - it is a part of my history and my past. And like all of you, my beloved brothers and sisters, we all have our pasts and our histories, but must live in the present. Now, gotta go, something in my eye....