Joseph Barna

Joseph Barna is a Marine Corps combat veteran of the Korean War where he served from June of 1952 to July of 1953. Joe'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, Carson and Reno. Joe served with the 1st Marine Division, 1st Regiment, 1st Battalion, Baker Company, Anti-Assault Platoon. He used all the weapons at the Marine Corps disposal including the M1 Rifle, the BAR or Browning Automatic Rifle, Rocket and Mortar Launchers, and perhaps one of the most feared weapons of modern times, the M2-2 Flamethrower which he carried for 5 months.

Joe believes in promoting the causes of all of our Veterans and frequently writes and speaks about the common experiences of veterans in editorial letters and speaking engagements at ceremonies and schools. He writes the monthly column, “Veteran's Journal” in a monthly periodical: The Progress Magazine. His writings have also been featured in the National Publication: The American Legion Magazine. Joe was also honored to be one of the featured speakers on the Hazleton TV WLYN 90-minute special entitled Korea the Forgotten War which first broadcast in November of 2015.

Joe has won 4 national gold medals in the creative writing divisions of the Veteran’s Administration Creative Arts Contest. As a gold medal winner, his essays were judged against award winning entries from more than 150 Veteran’s Administration medical centers nationwide.

Joe is an active member of the Freeland Post 5010 Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he holds the office of Senior Vice-Commander and the Freeland American Legion Post 473. He serves as a rifleman on the community’s joint military honor guard and is honored to participate in military funerals and ceremonies.

Joe lives in Freeland PA. He was married to the love of his life, Eleanore, for 67 years at the time of her passing in December 2020. They have 3 children, 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.