RET COL Rex Nelson Barker

RET Col. Rex Nelson Barker, age 90, of Fayetteville, Tennessee passed away on Monday, October 28, 2024. Rex is survived by his loving wife; Iris L. Barker, stepdaughter; Deborah I Gilbert, grandson; Jeremy L. Romberger.

Rex was born in Marie, Arkansas in 1934, he graduated from Arkansas State College receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Commercial Advertising and a Reserve Commission in the Infantry through the ROTC. Rex entered active duty on 1 December 1956 at Fort Benning, Georgia. After graduation from the Basic Infantry Officers Course in April 1957, he remained at Fort Benning as a Tactical Officer in the Infantry Officer Candidate School.

From November 1958 to December 1959 Rex served as Administrative Officer to the Eighth Army Signal Officer in Korea and transferred to the Signal Corps in March 1959. In January 1960 he was transferred to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and held successive positions as Executive Officer of Company D, Commander of Company A,1st Student Battalion, US Army Signal School Regiment, and finally as Regimental S1 and Adjutant. During this period he received his appointment in the Regular Army.

From September 1961 to May 1962 Rex attended the Officers Career Course at Fort Monmouth and, following graduation, was transferred to Taiwan where he served as Supply Officer for the US Army Signal Communications Agency. He commanded Company C, 122nd Signal Battalion, 2d Infantry Division until August 1965. In September 1965 he was transferred to the United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam where he was an Advisor to the Vietnamese Army Signal Base Depot. Upon his return from Vietnam in September 1966, he was assigned to Headquarters, United States Army Strategic Communications Command in Washington as Assistant Secretary of the General Staff. In July 1968, after graduation from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, he was assigned to the USA STRAT COM Signal Group-Alaska as the Operations Officer. Returning to Vietnam in September 1969, he served successively as the XXIV Corps Artillery Signal Officer, Operations Officer of the XXIV Corps Signal Section, and Assistant Corps Signal Officer.

In November 1970 he was assigned to the United States Continental Army Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia as an Operations and Training Staff Officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Individual Training. He was transferred to Germany in January 1972 and commanded the 16th Signal Battalion until its inactivation as a USAREUR unit in September of that year. From September to December 1972 he was the 7th Signal Brigade S3 Officer. He commanded the 440th Signal Battalion, located in Darmstadt, Germany from December 1972 to June 1974 when he was transferred to Washington, DC and assigned as an Operations and Training Staff Officer in the Telecommunications and Command and Control Directorate, ODCSOPS, Headquarters, Department of the Army. Prior to assuming command of the USACC-Operations Command, he was a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Washington, DC.

Rex's Military decorations include the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with Second Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, with Second Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, and the Vietnam Medal of Honor First Class. Rex retired from the United States Army with the rank of Colonel in 1982.

A visitation for Rex at Valhalla Funeral Home & Memory Gardens, 698 Winchester Rd NE, Huntsville, Alabama 35811 will be held Friday, November 1, 2024 beginning at 2:00 PM with Graveside Service with Military Honors at 3:00pm at Valhalla Memory Gardens in the Garden of Valor.