He spent almost 61 years as a missing in action Korean War soldier, now his remains were finally brought home and laid to rest.
Sergeant Barker was a military medic who was taken prisoner while taking care of his wounded brothers in North Korea back in 1950.
He died one year later, at the young age of 22.
This day has been something many of these family members have been waiting a lifetime for.
"You know words can't describe how grateful my family is for this," said Barker's nephew Gregory Travis Lee.
Gregory Travis, who was named after Sgt. Barker, is finally able to see his uncle have the proper military memorial he earned six decades ago.
"It's just unfortunate that he had to die at a young age, but he was a selfless person and you can tell by all the things that he did," said Lee.
Hearing stories passed down from his mother, Gregory learned that not only was his uncle a hero for our country, but also their family hero.
"He wanted to bring his family out of poverty that's why he joined the service to become a doctor," said Lee.
It's reasons like this that many of his fellow veterans believe that Sgt. Barker and other fallen soldiers should receive more recognition.
"Well he's been there 60 years how else is he going to be recognized? For being there, what's the government going to do?" said military veteran Edwin Maunakea.
Although locals can't do much about they way the government recognized veterans, there were many, just like these men and women, who stepped up to do their part.
"The government would have handle it as far as payment, but we didn't ask for any, it was an honor, I had people volunteering and people wanting to do it with no charge," said Harper-Talasek Funeral Director Belinda Johnson.
And honoring Sergeant Barker is what the day was all about.
"It's just a real honor I was happy to do it and we'd do it again," said Johnson.
And as the colors were presented to his family, it's not only closure that they received, but also peace.
"It's a true American story about a true American hero.
Sergeant William Travis Barker died February 18, 1951, and was buried August 15, 2012 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.
