John Lewis Barkley

About the Author

John Lewis Barkley was a distinguished American soldier and author, renowned for his firsthand account of the harrowing experiences on the Western Front during World War I. Born in 1894 in Missouri, Barkley enlisted in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of sergeant in the 82nd Division, where his extraordinary bravery in combat earned him the Medal of Honor in 1918 for single-handedly silencing a German machine gun nest under heavy fire. After the war, he channeled his wartime ordeals into writing, offering readers a vivid, unvarnished glimpse into the chaos and heroism of trench warfare. His memoir, Scarlet Fields: The Combat Memoir of a World War I Medal of Honor Hero, stands as a testament to his resilience and literary talent, capturing the raw intensity of battle while honoring the sacrifices of his comrades. Barkley passed away in 1966, leaving behind a legacy that continues to educate and inspire generations about the Great War.