Purple Heart Medal recipient George W. Barnet Jr., right, stands with Chuck Blood, center, designer of the planned monument at Kane-Woijtkiewicz Park, holding the Purple Heart plaque that will be incorporated into the stone, and Westfield Purple Heart Trail spokesman Mike L. Roeder. (DON WIELGUS / SUBMITTED)

This is the last of a three-part series on the Purple Heart Medal, Purple Heart Trail and the proposed veterans monument at Kane-Wojtkiewicz Park in Westfield, coinciding with the June 30 end of the fundraising campaign for the monument.

In June 1967, George W. Barnet Jr., one of eight children of George and Jenny Barnet of Taylor Avenue in Westfield, graduated from Westfield Trade High School. He had an interest in landing an apprenticeship in one of the trades, but four months later, on Oct. 11, 1967, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey, for Basic Combat Training (BCT). Eight weeks later, recently promoted to E-2, Private Barnet was sent to Fort McClellan, Alabama, for Advanced Infantry Training (AIT). At 6 feet, 1 inch, and 145 pounds, E-2 Barnet adjusted well to the physical and psychological challenges that soldiers in AIT have to endure. On April 15, 1968, he was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 11Bravo10, Infantryman and a promotion to private first class (E-3).

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