On October 31, 1918, near Bois-de-Bantheville, the 354th Regiment sent 7 patrols into no man's land to reconnoiter German positions in preparation for an advance as part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Two patrols became pinned down by heavy rifle and machine gun fire. One man managed to crawl to the safety of the Allied lines and brought news that 3 men were trapped in no man's land.
Upon hearing this, PFC. Charles Barger and his asst. gunner voluntarily ran 500 yards, 3 separate times, into no man's land, through heavy machine gun and artillery fire with a stretcher, to rescue the wounded men who were only 50 yards from a machine gun nest.
Both men were awarded the Medal Honor. Barger was also awarded numerous other awards to include 10 purple hearts for wounds he sustained throughout his time in battle.
Upon returning home, he had difficulty adjusting to civilian life and struggled to stay employed. After several divorces, he was hired as a police officer in 1922 where in one call, was shot 5 times after exchanging gunfire with barricaded suspects.
Barger recovered from his injuries, but his head wound coupled with the effects of mustard gas and post-traumatic stress eventually took its toll on his physical and mental health. He remained with the police force for 12 years before they let him go with no compensation or pension.
Barger did whatever he could to make ends meet, but every day was a struggle. Against everything he believed in, accepted charity from the American Legion and VFW, the only two agencies that stood by him through the years. "It's fine to have all the medals," he lamented, "but the trouble is you can't eat them." On the night of Nov.23, police were called to his home where they found him wielding a large hunting knife and setting fire to his farmhouse. He had 3 self-inflicted wounds to his throat, thorn clothing and 3rd degree burns. He died at the hospital 2 days later. "Every effort made by the veterans' organizations to persuade the government that
sent him to war to admit responsibility for his mental condition ended in failure. There was no 'proof' in cold language that his suffering was connected to his service." #reality