William E . Barber William Earl Barber ( November 30 , 1919 – April 19 , 2002 ) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps awarded with the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War . With only 220 men under his command , Barber held off more than 1 , 400 People ' s Republic of China soldiers during six days of fighting . Despite the extreme cold weather conditions and himself suffering a bone fracturing wound to the leg , Barber refused an order to leave his position fearing that a retreat would trap 8 , 000 other Marines . Barber and his limited number of men killed over 1 , 000 enemy troops ; only 82 of his men were able to walk away after eventually being relieved . Biography . William Earl Barber was born on November 30 , 1919 , in Dehart , Kentucky . He completed Morgan County High School in West Liberty , Kentucky , and attended Morehead State Teachers College prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps . Marine Corps career . Barber enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 1940 and completed his recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island , South Carolina , followed by parachute training at the Naval Air Station , Lakehurst , New Jersey , was designated a paramarine and assigned as a parachute instructor at the newly activated Parachute Training School at New River , North Carolina . In May 1943 , he entered Officer Candidates School at Marine Corps Base Quantico , Virginia , and was commissioned a second lieutenant on August 11 , 1943 . World War II . Second Lieutenant Barber served with the 1st Parachute Regiment on the West Coast until 1944 . Assigned as a platoon commander with the 26th Marine Regiment , 5th Marine Division , at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton , California , he embarked for the Pacific area and later took part in the Battle of Iwo Jima . After being wounded , he was evacuated and later returned to his unit , serving as company commander during the last two weeks of the operation . Shortly after , he was promoted to first lieutenant and again commanded the company during the initial occupation of Japan . He was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart his actions on Iwo Jima in which " he disregarded his own wounds and directed enemy fire to rescue two wounded Marines from enemy territory . " Barber returned to the United States in 1946 ; he served on recruiting duty in Milwaukee , Wisconsin ; served as a rifle company commander with the 8th Marines , 2nd Marine Division , at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune , North Carolina ; Inspector - Instructor of the Marine Corps Reserve ' s Company D , 6th Infantry Battalion , in Altoona and Philadelphia , respectively . Korean War . In October 1950 , as a captain , Barber was ordered to Korea and took part in the action for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart — the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in November and December 1950 . He led his company in a desperate five - day defense of a frozen mountain pass vital to the 1st Marine Division ' s breakout to the sea . Fighting in sub - zero temperatures against overwhelming odds , he was wounded on the first night of the action ( November 29 , 1950 ) , but refused evacuation and remained in action in command of his company . He was evacuated on December 8 , and hospitalized at the United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka , Japan , until his return to the United States in March 1951 . In April 1951 , he joined Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego as a company commander and later Executive Officer of the 1st Recruit Training Battalion . He was promoted to major in July 1952 . On August 20 , 1952 , Major Barber was presented the Medal of Honor by President Harry S . Truman in ceremonies at the White House . Major Barber completed the Advanced Infantry Course , Fort Benning , Georgia , in March 1954 , then served as Operations and Training Officer , 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines at MCB Camp Lejeune . From 1956 to 1958 , he served in Thailand as Assistant Naval Attache and Assistant Naval Attache for Air at the American Embassy in Bangkok . During the next four years he was assigned to Marine Corps Schools at MCB Quantico , and served as Assistant Chief Instructor of the Junior School . While there , he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in April 1960 . Again ordered overseas , LtCol Barber joined the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa , Japan in July 1962 as Commanding Officer of 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion . Following his return to the United States , he served at Headquarters Marine Corps as Head , Combat Requirements Section , until January 1966 when he became Head , Marksmanship Branch , G - 3 Division , and served in this capacity until July 1967 . He was promoted to colonel on September 22 , 1965 . Transferred to the 2nd Marines , 2nd Marine Division , Marine Corps Base , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , Col . Barber served consecutively as Division Plans Officer , Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 2 ( Intelligence ) , and Commanding Officer of the 2nd Marines , until May 1969 . Vietnam War . In 1969 , he was ordered to Vietnam where he served his last tour of active duty as Psychological Operations Officer , III Marine Amphibious Force , Military Assistance Command , Vietnam . For his service in this capacity , he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat " V . ” Retirement . Colonel Barber retired from active duty on May 1 , 1970 . He then returned to Morehead University and completed his degree upon completion of which he became a civilian military analyst for the Northrop Corporations . Barber died at his home in Irvine , California on April 19 , 2002 of bone marrow cancer and he was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery . His wife Ione died four years later and her ashes were interred in his grave . Awards and honors . Col . Barber ' s awards include : Medal of Honor citation . For his actions at the Chosin Reservoir , Korea from November 28 , to December 2 , 1950 , Barber was awarded the Medal of Honor . His citation reads : The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to CAPTAIN WILLIAM E . BARBER UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : / S / HARRY S . TRUMAN Namesakes . The following have been named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient William Barber :