Sergeant First Class Anthony R Barton, born April of 1980, in Bluefield, West Virginia, beloved son of Donald and Mary Barton; beloved husband of Jessica Barton.
Anthony graduated from Big Creek High School in War, West Virginia, where he was co-valedictorian of the class of 1998 and excelled in football and wrestling. He subsequently received an organizational leadership degree from Mountain State University.
SFC Anthony Barton served in the West Virginia Army National Guard from December 2001 until his death in 2012. He served fourteen months in Iraq with the West Virginia Army National Guard as a military police officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
SFC Barton was a highly decorated soldier who received numerous awards and medals for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal (Posthumous), Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, Meritorious Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, West Virginia Emergency Service Ribbon with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, West Virginia State Service Ribbon with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, West Virginia Service Ribbon and Shoulder Sleeve Insignia For Wartime Service — 101st Airborne and 15th MP Brigade.
SFC Anthony Barton also served the state’s citizenry on many occasions as a member of the West Virginia National Guard when he assisted during severe flooding, major snowstorms and other state emergencies. SFC Barton was a certified police officer who graduated from the West Virginia State Police Academy, and he served as a McDowell County deputy sheriff and as a police officer with the Town of War while serving in the West Virginia National Guard.
He also enjoyed riding his Harley and playing guitar, and he was actively involved in the New Testament Christian Church where he played guitar.
Anthony suffered from post traumatic stress resulting from the highly stressful conditions of his deployment in Iraq.
SFC Anthony R Barton lost his battle with PTS, December 26, 2012. He was 32 years old.
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