In Memory of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal
Wayne Robert Barth
Bowdle, South Dakota, Edmunds County
May 28, 1946 –April 24,
1967
Killed in Action in Vietnam
Wayne Robert Barth was born on April 28,
1946, in Bowdle, South Dakota, to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Barth. He
had five sisters: Dianna, Nancy, Sherry, Janice, and Marlene,
and three brothers: John, Troy, and Larry. Wayne went to school
in Bowdle, graduating in 1964. After his graduation, he went to
Lodi, California, to find work. He was a service station
attendant before he enlisted in the Marine Corps.
In November of 1965, Wayne Barth joined the
Marines. After his training, he was sent to Vietnam as a part of
Company B, First Battalion, 9th Marine Division. In
his last letter home shortly before his death, Lance Corporal
Barth told his parents he was set to come home on leave on May
1.
On April 24, 1967, Lance Corporal Wayne
Robert Barth was killed in action in Vietnam. Just shortly
before, his parents had moved to Lodi, California. Several of
Wayne’s siblings knew of his death before his parents did
because their uncle, Walter, had been told when Marine Corps
representatives came looking for Elmer and his wife. In fact,
because the Marine Corps apparently thought his parents still
lived in South Dakota, Wayne’s body was returned first to South
Dakota.
Lance Corporal Wayne Robert Barth was
buried with military honors at Cherokee Memorial Park, Lodi,
California. Among his awards were the Purple Heart, the National
Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, a Gold Star
Lapel Pin, and the Campaign Ribbon of the Republic of Vietnam.
Wayne Barth is currently survived by his
siblings: Dianna (Keith) Geist, Lodi, CA; Janice (Terry) Hofer,
Java, SD; Larry (Delmar) Barth, Lodi; Marlene Erbe, Lodi; John
(Janice) Barth, Idaho Falls, ID; Nancy (Henery) Ramirez, Lodi;
Sherry (Rick) Searl, Aberdeen, SD; and Troy (Jaylene) Barth,
Idaho Falls.
This entry was respectfully submitted by
Slade Hansen, 7th grade, Spearfish Middle School,
Spearfish, SD, May 11, 2006. Information and approval for this
entry were provided by Janice Hofer, Java.
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