Barna will never forget the corpsman who saved his life in Korea

Nov. 10—WILKES-BARRE — Joe Barna recently spent two days in San Antonio, Texas, honoring Corpsman John (Jackie) Kilmer and remembering what love and friendship is all about.

Barna, 92, from Freeland, is a Korean War Veteran who spoke Aug. 12-13 at the grave-side service honoring Kilmer, the Navy Corpsman who saved Barna's life 70 years earlier.

Kilmer lost his own life in a battle several weeks later on Aug. 13, 1952.

"I will never forget Seaman Second Class John (Jackie) Kilmer," Barna said at the service. "No one could be any closer to me. The day before I spoke at his grave site, I had the honor of speaking in the hospital that teaches Navy Corpsmen. The student center bears the name 'Kilmer Hall.' In front of Jackie's surviving family and an audience of more than 300 Navy personnel — many of these the current corpsmen class — I told stories of the rare quiet times Jackie and I shared in a bunker. Afterwards, I received a standing ovation. I shook the hands of hundreds of people and received many hugs. I know that there were more than a few tears shed — mine included. I was told by a Marine sergeant that my words strengthened the bond between the Navy and Marine Corps."

Barna's speech, titled "Good Morning Doc, is heart-wrenching.

"Good Morning, Doc, I came for my appointment," Barna began. "I want to thank you for patching me up those three times in Korea. You never sent me a bill. I never got the chance to say goodbye to you on that August day in 1952. I didn't know you left to help out our buddies on that other mountain. I wish I could have gone with you. But after our battle the night before, I was really run down and needed an hour of sleep. I remember every time I saw you, you were bending over one of my buddies. I never heard your name, "Doc," called so many times."

Barna went on to say that he owes Kilmer "so much."

"But all I have are the moments we shared in the bunker between battles," Barna said. "I really thought some day we would both be on that return boat ride, going under the Golden Gate Bridge and stepping on California ground again. I won't ever forget you because you are a very precious memory to me. Do you remember how we used to heat up those beans and sausage patties over the candles my parish priest would send to me? How about that terrible corned beef hash that I don't think a dog would eat?"

These are memories of war, Barna said, adding that he and Kilmer shared so many stories in such a short period of time — stories about their families, where they lived, even their pets.

"I will always owe you for the 70 years of life you gave me," Barna said. "All my family, grandkids and friends know about you. When I look at your picture, I just wish I could be hugging you instead. During that mountain side battle when I was bayoneted, how did you find me among all the other Marines calling for 'Doc?' I guess the Big Guy in Heaven told you that I was worth saving?"

Barna said he remembers the day when he and Kilmer first met. Kilmer asked Barna, "How can a little guy like you carry that big flamethrower?"

"I believe I got my strength watching you save Marines," Barna said. "You gave me courage when I really needed it. I hope I earned the 70 years you gave me. Someday you and I will be together again. We will have lots of stories to tell — some funny and others are sure to bring tears."

Barna then drew attention to all the people gathered at the ceremony at Kilmer's final resting place.

"You are truly missed and will never be forgotten," Barna said. "You were taught to cure and I was taught to kill. We were both good at our jobs. I just wish God would have given you half the 70 years he gave me. Semper Fi, Doc."

The story of Joe and Doc

As Barna says, "Memories can be so beautiful — you sometimes wish they never go away."

Barna said, "As a very old veteran, I still hold many memories in my overloaded mind. There are some memories I hope will never go away. I don't want them to."

Barna said, like all soldiers in war, many young boys not even 20 years old, wanted the same thing — to return home to their families alive so they could all be together again.

"In a war, there is always hope, faith, love and true friendships," Barna said. "There is also bravery, sacrifice and the desire to live. In wars there are only two things — living or dying. Many live and come back to see their families, but for far too many, the ticket is one-way."

Barna said his life almost ended before he turned age 22. Barna said one night in Korea, he found himself lying in a mountain trench 10,000 miles away from his family and town where he grew up.

"I was losing blood from a deep bayonet wound to my left arm," Barna said. "The battle was raging all around me. I looked around and I saw many of my buddies covered with blood, crying out and calling out for 'Doc" — a Navy Corpsman trained to keep Marines alive. If a corpsman is not there to respond, that boy may very well die."

Barna said he remembers watching his blood soak into the Korean dirt and he was getting weak and tired.

"I was about to close my eyes and meet God," Barna said. "Then I heard a voice — a voice I had heard every day. It was my Doc, Corpsman John (Jackie) Kilmer. I was very tired but I heard him say 'Wake up, I have to close that wound or you'll die. God doesn't want you yet.'"

That night, Barna said he was given a second chance to live 70 more years of life and counting. The corpsman who saved him, Kilmer, would lose his chance to see old age. Kilmer died in battle five weeks later when helping another Marine live.

"He was a bravest man I ever met," Barna said. "In a few minutes this hero earned three medals — the Purple Heart, the Navy Cross and the Congressional Medal of Honor."

Barna said he could never forget Kilmer, who he regards as his brother and Guardian Angel.

On Aug. 12-13, Kilmer was remembered and honored in a ceremony in San Antonio, Texas, for being the hero he was. Barna traveled to Texas to honor and remember him and he was invited to speak at the cemetery where he Kilmer sleeps forever.

"I felt his presence as if I was speaking directly to him," Barna said. "I felt he was looking down at the crowd that was there to give him the honor he deserved and earned. I could almost hear his voice saying 'I knew you would come corporal. I'm sorry I had to leave you on Aug. 12, 1952, but God needed me to care for some of your buddies.'"

Barna said Kilmer has been in Heaven for 70 years.

"I bet that all the angels are happy he is there among them," Barna said. "I wonder if he received a new black medical bag? I know that his old one had a few bullet holes in it.

"On that long-ago night in Korea, he gave me something out of that bag — that something was life."

Kilmer now lies covered with a grass blanket and is surrounded by flowers and an American Flag. Barna thanked him by kneeling down alongside his headstone.

"I told him I will never forget him," Barna said. "I know now that God takes only the best. My one wish is that God would have given Doc Kilmer the years that he gave me."

In combat

Barna's combat time in Korea included some of the most terrible fighting that the Marines endured including the mountain battles at Bunker Hill, Old Baldy, Siberia, Vegas, and Reno.

Barna served as a combat veteran of the Korean War from June of 1952 to July of 1953.

"Jackie Kilmer was just a boy from Michigan who loved Marines and wanted to save as many as he could," Barna said. "Jackie was tall, maybe six feet-two inches, and very thin. He had a high squeaky voice, like the Wally Cox TV character Mr. Peepers."

Barna said he was knocked down by a shell and he found himself laying on his back, the half-full flamethrower tank pinning him to the ground. A North Korean soldier came at him with his bayonet.

"In his quilted suit, he seemed to come out of nowhere," Barna said. "I can still see his face and smell the garlic on his breath. As he lunged at me, I was able to turn, but he stabbed my upper left arm with his bayonet. I had a double-barrel shotgun taped on the arm of my flamethrower and gave him both barrels. I think I blew him in half."

Several weeks later, Barna said Kilmer was called to go to a nearby battle to help with the wounded. During this battle, Kilmer was hit with shrapnel and was taken into a bunker to be treated.

"From inside the bunker, he heard Marines calling out for help," Barna wrote. "Looking out, he saw two wounded men on the battlefield. The sergeant told him that if he would go out there, he would die.

"Jackie replied, "If I don't go out there, they will die!"

Barna said Kilmer crawled out to them and began to treat their wounds. As he did, a heavy round of shelling came in. Kilmer threw himself over the two Marines. A shell landed so close that 15 pieces of shrapnel entered his body.

Kilmer died, but the two Marines lived. Kilmer was six days short of his 22nd birthday.

Jackie Kilmer was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. His medal was presented to his mother.

Shortly after Barna arrived home in 1953, he called Kilmer's mother in Flint, Mich. He told her that her son was the bravest man he ever met.

Barna carries a picture of his hero John "Jackie" Kilmer, in his pocket, close to his heart.

"We all should carry all veterans close to our hearts every day," he said.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.