John Lewis Barkley

John Lewis Barkley was given the title of the most decorated soldier in the midwest. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 7, 1918 for single handily breaking up two German assaults on hill "253" that Allied forces were trying to hold. He also fixed a captured German machine gun, mounted it on a French tank, waited for the battle to surround him, and then opened fire on the Germans. Five minutes later a German with a 77 millimeter gun opened fire on his tank striking the steering wheel. He remained at his post and when the firing stopped broke a second counter attack enabling the Allied forces to gain the hill. He was cited for bravery and was presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor by U.S. General John Pershing.

Barkley was a Private, First Class, U.S. Army, Company K, fourth infantry, third division. He was in World War I and received the nation's highest military award for bravery. He was also a member of the Kansas City police department as a detective.