Barron Brothers

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1895-1918



    William and his brother Edward were some of the first young men in Tonawanda to enlist in WW1 in 1917. They were also some of the first Marines to land in France.  Both of the brothers spent months in the trenches of France. Together they experienced some of the bloodiest battles of the war. 
    They were wounded around the same time. Edward lost an arm to enemy fire. William was shot in the shoulder and his lung.  Both brothers found themselves recovering in the hospital at the same time. They remained strong and looked forward to being reunited with family at home. The first to go back to the states was Edward with William behind him by a few days.     
    Their family came together in Tonawanda to greet Edward and wait for William who they had been told was on the mend and would be returning home soon. Before the celebrations started, news came that William had died on a transport ship home. 
    A funeral procession for him started at Wheatfield and Oliver street and made it's way to city cemetery. All the flags in the Tonawandas were at half staff in honor of William.




    Later William was awarded some of the military's top honors. This was what was written of his heroism:

War Department, General Orders No. 44 (1919) The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private William Lawrence Barron (MCSN: 94266), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Sixteenth Company, Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near Chateau-Thierry, France, 23 June 1918. After making several successful journeys over an area swept by artillery, machine gun, and rifle fire, in his capacity as runner, Private Barron was caught in a heavy barrage and seriously wounded. By a superhuman effort he made his way to his objective, and, after being dragged into safety, insisted on personally delivering his message. He then fell exhausted from loss of blood. He was awarded two Silver Stars, a Navy Cross, and a Distinguished service cross.

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