Raymond O. Barton

Major General Raymond O. "Tubby" Barton (1890 – 9 February 1963).

He graduated from the United States Military Academy class of 1913. As commander of the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment he served in Germany from 1917 to 1923, being the last formation to leave.

He commanded the 4th Infantry Division from 3 July 1942 to 26 December 1944 and led them into battle from D-Day at Utah Beach [ [http://www.army.mil/cmh/books/wwii/7-4/7-4_8.htm#300] Cross Channel Attack, Gordon A. Harrison CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORYUNITED STATES ARMY WASHINGTON, D.C., 2002 ] to the Liberation of Paris and into the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest before leaving the command due to health problems on December 27, 1944.

In the movie The Longest Day he is played by Edmond O'Brien. He appears in a scene where he allows his assistant, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (played by Henry Fonda), to lead the division ashore at D-Day.

During the war he became friends with Ernest Hemingway who sought his favor as the war correspondent assigned to the division and the two corresponded after.

Hemingway wrote to Barton:

During the Battle of Hurtgen Forest on the Weisser Weh stream near Grosshau, Germany General Barton gave up his belt for tourniquet material to medic Russell J. York of his division at York's request. Lives were saved, and a Silver Star awarded to the Technician Medical 4th Grade York for his actions.

Barton is buried at Westover Memorial Park in Augusta, Georgia.

ee also

References

Further reading

*cite book|title=West Point Warriors: Profiles of Duty, Honor, and Country in Battle|author=Tom Carhart|id=ISBN 0-446-61125-5|year=2002
* [http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/utah/en_page.php?page=4 Utah Beach Forces]
* Obituary in [http://www.library.usma.edu/ West Point Assembly] 1963