Olen E. Barnes

Company A 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

4th Infantry Division

KIA 12/03/1944

Olen Eugene Barnes was born in Hartford, Sebastian County, Arkansas on June 22, 1924.

Prior to entering military service he was employed in the ship building industry
in California.

He was drafted into the Army on July 6, 1943, and entered the service at Los Angeles, California.
His home of residence was listed as Sebastian County, Arkansas. He had completed two years of High School,
listed his civlian occupation as carpenter, and at the time of induction was single with no dependents. His religion
was listed as Protestant.

(He was actually married on May 2, 1943 before he entered the Army.)

He was assigned to Company A as a Private from the 41st Replacement Battalion on September 27, 1944.

He was promoted to Private First Class on November 1, 1944.

Private First Class Barnes was killed in action in Germany on the last day of 1st Battalion's participation
in the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest, just as the 22nd Infantry was being relieved from their part in the operation.

Olen E. Barnes was originally buried in the temporary cemetery at Henri-Chapelle
in Block KK Row 6 Grave 106, and was moved to the permanent cemetery at Henri-Chapelle,
in the 1947-1949 time frame, when the temporary cemeteries were shut down.

Burial:

Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial
Henri-Chapelle
Liege, Belgium
Plot E Row 9 Grave 28

Grave marker for Olen E. Barnes

Photo by Des Philippet from the Find A Grave website

Top photo of Olen E. Barnes by Théophile Odaert from the Find A Grave website

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