Larry Hulan Barbee was born in Quanah, Texas, on October
2, 1945 to Hulan F. and Lorene (Blount) Barbee. He and his
family moved to Sully County in 1951, and then to rural
Hughes County in 1955. He had three sisters, Mary, Lori and
Teri, and two brothers, Roger and Cary. Larry attended
school in Lincoln Township in Sully County, and in 1955
began attending Harrold Public Schools. He enjoyed playing
basketball and track, graduating from Harrold High School in
1963. Larry went to South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid
City, South Dakota from 1963-1964 and then attended Abilene
Christian College in Abilene, Texas, until entering the Army
in 1966.
Larry H. Barbee entered the service in September 1966 in
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and trained in Fort Bliss and
Elpaso, Texas. He also took Officer Candidate School
training in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1967, and gained a
Jungle Expert certificate in 1968. 1st Lt. Larry Hulan
Barbee was then sent overseas, arriving in Vietnam on August
29, 1968. He was a member of Company B, 2D Battalion, 2D
Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.
In one of Barbee’s letters home he wrote, “When I get
home I never want to go on any picnics,” and was looking
forward to finishing his education as an engineer at Abilene
Christian University at Abilene, Texas.
Two months before he was to come home, on the afternoon
of June 6, 1969, 1st Lt. Larry Hulan Barbee was on a
Reconaissance in Force mission near An Loc, Vietnam, when he
was killed trying to save one of the members of his platoon.
His captain, Richard T. Altieri, wrote these words to
Barbee’s parents:
…….On the afternoon of 6 June 1969
Bravo Company was on a Reconnaissance in Force mission
near An Loc, Vietnam. While on this mission Bravo
engaged an unknown size enemy force in a battle that
raged on for five hours, and it was during this time
that your son tried to rescue one of the members of his
platoon in a very heroic action. As he reached the man
your son was mortally wounded from a gunshot wound to
his head. It may be of some comfort to you to know that
your son did not suffer from any unnecessary pain….
…….To all of us in Company B, the
death of your son has left a void in our ranks that can
never be completely filled. I sincerely hope that you
find some comfort in the knowledge that your son was an
exemplary soldier and died in the defense of freedom and
in the service of his country.
Army 1st Lt. Larry Hulan Barbee was buried at Medicine
Hill Cemetery in Harold, South Dakota on June 16, 1969, with
full Military honors. He received a Silver Star, two Purple
Hearts, a Bronze Star, an Army Commendation Medal, and a
Sharp Shooter Medal.
Larry H. Barbee was survived by his parents, Lorene and
Hulan Barbee, his sisters, Mary, Lori, and Teri, and his
brothers, Roger and Cary, all of Harrold, South Dakota.
Photo courtesy of Sheila Hansen
Kalyn Eulberg, 7th grade, Stanley County Middle School,
Fort Pierre, South Dakota, respectfully submitted this
entry. Larry Hulan Barbee’s father, Mr. Hulan Barbee of
Harrold, South Dakota, provided information for this entry.
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