Frank A. Barker
Frank Akeley Barker (born January 26, 1928 in New Haven Connecticut , † June 13, 1968 in Quảng Ngãi , South Vietnam ) was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army . He was the battalion commander of the so-called " Task Force Barker " , which was responsible for the 1968 massacre of Mỹ Lai during the Vietnam War .
Incidents of war
At around 8 a.m. on March 16, 1968, troops from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry of the Americal Division , led by Lt.-Col. Barker a village called Thuan Yen , known to the Americans as My Lai 4 , in Vietnam's Quang Ngai Province. The TF Barker's mission was intended to be a temporary strike against the Viet Cong on the coast of the South China Sea , more precisely on the Batangan Peninsula , where it was assumed that this was a stronghold of the political and military wing of the Viet Cong.
The American troops did not encounter any resistance in the village, but in the early afternoon of March 16, 504 civilians - men, women, children and old people as well as village cattle ranchers - were terribly killed by US soldiers in and around My Lai . The Charlie Company officially had only one accident victim to complain about: the African American soldier, PFC Herbert Carter , shot himself in the foot intentionally in order to be evacuated from the scene by MedEvac .
A year later, a soldier involved in the massacre who had recently finished his compulsory military service broke his silence by sending a letter of allegations to the US Army and the United States Congress .
death
Lieutenant Colonel Frank A. Barker could never be held accountable for this massacre. On June 13, 1968, the helicopter Barker was in came under enemy fire in Quảng Ngãi Province . While trying to avoid the fire, an O-2 - FAC machine of the US Air Force , which was traveling in the same airspace as part of a " Command and Control " mission , collided with the helicopter, which was literally torn in two.
The other soldiers killed in the collision were:
- Warrant Officer James D. Carter of Clarkston , Michigan
- Warrant Officer Jerry H. Johnson of Hampton , Virginia
- Specialist 4 Gary A. Milton of Hartley , Texas
- First Lieutenant Michael L. Phillips from Washington, DC
- Captain Earl R. Michles of Pocahontas , Arkansas
- Private First Class Allen R. Weamer from Tacoma , Washington
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Barker, Frank A. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Barker, Frank Akeley (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American military, Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 26, 1928 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | New Haven |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 13, 1968 |
| Place of death | Quang Ngai, South Vietnam |