Harvey Curtiss Barnum Jr. (born July 21, 1940) is a retired United States Marine Corps officer who received the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.

[1] At Saint Anselm College, Barnum joined the Marine Corps’ Platoon Leaders Class program in November 1958, and attended two summer training sessions, one in 1959 and the other in 1961.

Upon returning to the United States from Spain, he was assigned as Officer in Charge, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Classified Files.

Detached in March 1965, he then served as Guard Officer, Marine Barracks, Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii.

During Operation Harvest Moon, Barnum would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 18, 1965 — for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty".

From March until August 1967, Barnum attended the Associate Field Artillery Officers Career Course, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation MCLEF.org, the Americans in Wartime Museum and Medifast.

Barnum's medals include:[7] The President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor to for service as set forth in the following Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Forward Observer for Artillery, while attached to Company H, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against communist forces at Ky Phu in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 18 December 1965.

When the company was suddenly pinned down by a hail of extremely accurate enemy fire and was quickly separated from the remainder of the battalion by over five hundred meters of open and fire-swept ground, and casualties mounted rapidly, Lieutenant Barnum quickly made a hazardous reconnaissance of the area seeking targets for his artillery.

His gallant initiative and heroic conduct reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Service.

[2]/S/Lyndon B. Johnson The United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. is named in his honor.