Dear AHERO ,
Our beloved son , LCPL Jason Nicholas Barfield , 22 , was KIA on October 24 , 2011 , while deployed to Helmand Province , Afghanistan , the Sangin District . As a resident of Ashford , Ala ., Jason was a 2008 graduate of Ashford High School , where he had been an active member of the “ Sound Of The Wiregrass ” marching band for six years . Jason started out playing the alto saxophone , had moved onto tenor and baritone saxophones , and was teaching himself to play the piano by ear . Jason ’ s hands were his gift , though not only in music . He had natural ability in drawing , taking art classes for years with one of our local artists . Instead of pursuing a career in either field , however , he was in search of something more . He wanted to make a difference – to do something that helped others . He had been looking for that since high school . It was early summer 2009 , but for me it ’ s as if it were just now . I was visiting my husband , Ray , Jason ’ s dad , who was in the hospital . We were waiting for the doctor to make his rounds . Just then , Jason comes bursting through the door , his eyes showing a mischievous sparkle like stars twinkling in the moonlight , his face all lit up with that cheesy sunbeam of a grin of his . “ Hey , Big Guy !” his said excitedly , using his favorite name for Ray who , in turn , would call Jason “ Little Guy .” Before Ray could reply , I spoke up . “ Don ’ t say another word . I know . You ’ re going Marine . You ’ re going to enlist in the Marine Corps .” Startled , Jason said , “ How do you do that ?! How does she do that , Dad ?!” But moms just know these things . I had seen his face . He had found what he had been searching for and he NEVER second-guessed his decision that day to join the Marine Corps . IN COUNTRY Jason was graduated from boot camp on April 23 , 2010 , his dad ’ s birthday . His first duty station was at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center , 29 Palms , California , as a combat engineer with 3rd CEB . Activated during war , it is now inactive . In September 2011 , he deployed to Afghanistan . He had made use of his time by training some of the Afghan troops by training them . Attached to 3 / 7 India Company 1st Platoon once they arrived , Jason ’ s squad consisted of himself and eight other Marines ( seven lance corporals and one private first class ), as well as one Afghan translator and later a canine . On the evening of October 23 , 2011 , LCPL Barfield and his squad conducted their last patrol of the day . There had been heavy gunfire up till that day . Others were also securing areas in the vicinity . LCPL Barfield and his squad left the next morning around 10 a . m . They were an hour or so into the patrol when everything went to hell . The squad was sent back to the same area they had secured the evening before . To one side was a cornfield with two Afghan boys and some elders harvesting the corn . To the other was a stone wall . As they approached , Jason noticed that the area had been disturbed . It wasn ’ t how they had left it . The ground was scattered with cornhusks . He urged the others to stay back until two in the squad had cleared the wall , then orders were given to continue on . Meanwhile , the two Afghan boys had come out of the field and were ahead of the squad , disappearing from sight . At this point , Jason , his mine sweeper and the dog handler with his canine were at the front . But then both handler and dog were ordered to the rear ! The squad , meanwhile , was ordered to carry on . But as they came closer to the suspicious field , Jason told them , “ Stay back ! Something doesn ’ t feel right . For your safety , stay back . This is what I ’ m trained for .” But again the order came for the full squad to continue . They moved closer . We were later told that our son had pushed two of the Marines back , once again saying , “ Something isn ’ t right !” With his sweeper in his grasp , Jason now moves forward slowly and cautiously . Suddenly his sweeper alerts him . He goes down on one knee to inspect , his K Bar in his right hand . He ’ s doing what he was trained to : Find the decoy and trip wire , confirm that the device is remote controlled rather than pressure plated . Jason realizes what he is faced with . He is still down on his knees , his body over the two IEDs , and he knows there is no time for him to get away . He utters those same frantic words to his squad again . The boys hiding behind the wall see through a “ murder hole ” that he has found the IED ’ S and is keeping his body in the protective position while calling out his warning . They detonate the explosives , the first instantly killing Jason as the other simultaneously goes off . These were “ squad buster ” or “ daisy chain ” IEDs , we were told . They were meant to kill or maim the entire squad . But realizing that Jason had discovered the decoy and trip wires , the Afghan boys had detonated them immediately . Because of Jason ’ s actions that terrible , tragic day , none of his eight squad members had been so much as injured . Instead , Jason had used himself as a shield and ordered them to get back while he remained in place . He ’ d done that knowing what was about to happen . He had taken the bomb ’ s impact himself to keep his fellow Marines , the translator , and the canine out of harm ’ s way . AN UNFORGETTABLE LEGACY LCPL Jason Nicholas Barfield received the Purple Heart during services held in his hometown where hundreds gathered to pay their respects to the young man they named “ Our Hometown Hero .” Three months later I contacted our district ’ s state legislator , Senator Harri Anne Smith , asking for her help in passing a tax relief law for families of service members KIA . Some states already had such a law but Alabama did not . The bill passed Alabama ’ s House and Senate unanimously with NO opposition . Zero ! Now it is the Jason Barfield Tax Relief Law ,* forever holding a spot in our history and doing what Jason had set out to do when he decided to become a U . S . Marine : helping others . In 2013 , during a ceremony at 29 Palms on March 7th – his 24th birthday – Jason was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions on October 24 , 2011 . He had received other awards , commendations and certificates from the start of his new-found calling as a US Marine . How was he able to give so much of himself for others ? He remained strong , never wavering in his faith . His positivity and always being himself earned the respect and love of those who came in contact with him . He was the young Marine with a Southern accent that couldn ’ t be mimicked , and he used it and his Southern charm and beautiful smile to his advantage with the ladies . Jason had a favorite motto , one he truly lived by even in the middle of a war zone : “ Every day is a good day ,” he believed . And if he could live by that where he was , then so can I . I mean , what do I really have to complain about ? I know exactly where my son is ! I have everything I need . If he could live by this simple phrase in combat or when bartering with locals for food or sleeping in body bags to stay warm and bathing in rivers , why can ’ t I ? NOW PART OF AHERO ’ S FAMILY AHERO Founder & President , MAJ Lee Stuckey ( who is now retired but back then was a captain ) first heard of Jason through other Marines . They had never met but he reached out , taking time to remember our son and us . He even attended Jason ’ s one-year memorial , dedicating a song to him played by singer / songwriter Kevin Adair and sung by Lee himself . A few years later , I came across some of Jason ’ s paperwork from MEPS . Right there , on paper , was Lee Stuckey ’ s signature . Jason and he HAD met ! As a Gold Star Family , we have witnessed Lee ’ s love for the Corps and all those who serve . His selfless dedication to Vets , whether they suffer from PTSD or are permanently disabled from their time serving , keeps him working with and mentoring them . How he finds the time or the energy , I have no idea . Lee is like the energizer bunny that never stops . His enthusiasm , zest for life , positive attitude , and outlook are contagious – and let ’ s not leave out inspiring ! Thank you , Lee , and everyone connected to AHERO , for helping us keep Jason ’ s memory alive . Thank you for remembering our son ’ s sacrifice . Thank you for embracing us in the fold of the AHERO family and for being a part of our family . With love , Ray , Kelli , and Savannah Barfield
AHERO MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 17