Girl Scouts Honor Lt. Eugene Barno with American flag for his Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart service in Korea. (Photo by Jim Raftis Sr.)
Megan Reedy places flags at the graves of veterans on Friday, May 22, at Riverside Cemetery-Apalachin. This is the tenth year that Troop 425 has participated in the “Flags In” ceremony at Riverside. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Sophia Werner places flags at the graves of veterans on Friday, May 22, at Riverside Cemetery-Apalachin. This is the tenth year that Troop 425 has participated in the “Flags In” ceremony at Riverside. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Three Apalalchin Girl Scouts – Cathy Deskur, Sophia Werner and Megan Reedy – on “Flags In” detail paused at the grave of 1st Lt. Eugene Barno, and read the military marker on the back side of his headstone.
It stated, “1st Lt. Eugene Barno, USA Korea, 9/16/29 – 2/14/2004. Silver Star. Bronze Star. Purple Heart OCL.”
Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Day Chairman Jim Raftis explained, “The Silver Star Medal is the third highest military decoration for valor awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.”
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded for meritorious service in a combat zone. The Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster is awarded in the name of the President for being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States. An Oak Leaf Cluster is for a second award of the same medal.
Lt. Barno’s widow, Madeline Barno of Apalachin, retrieved her husband’s recollections written in March 1995. Here’s one of 1st Lt. Barno’s battlefield experiences during his tour from 1951 to 1953.
“A Chinese patrol of four men came to the bunker. One of them squatted down and tried to look in. I was staring him right in the face and he still couldn’t see me. I raised my carbine to his face and pulled the trigger. It didn’t go off.
The four scrambled to the top of the bunker, talking excitedly. They dropped a grenade at my feet. It went off and I wasn’t hit. A second, and I think a third, were dropped at my feel and still I wasn’t hit.
I guess I knew that the next one would land in my lap, so I threw the only grenade I had about ten feet from me. The blast hit my left eye and shrapnel hit my left hand (knuckles). I could hear a groaning on the top of the bunker. A few moments later, a VT round came in directly over the bunker. No more groans. Silence.”
