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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Mar '99
David Eugene Barnett, Jr. * '46
No. 15761 * 29 Apr 1924 - 23 Jan 1998
Died in Alexandria, VA * Inurned in Arlington National Columbarium,
Arlington, VA.
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Dave was an "Army Brat" which accounted
for his birth in Honolulu, Hawaii. After spending his youth at
various Army Posts with his father, Dave attended and graduated
from Darlington Academy, Georgia. He was in his second year at
Clemson University, his father's alma mater, when he gained his
coveted appointment to West Point. Dave joined the Class of 1946
on the banks of the Hudson on 1 July 1943.
Dave knew what to expect as a cadet and had no
real problems, academically or with the system. Roommate, Jack
Bodie, remembered: "You could not find a finer roommate
than Dave. He could laugh at anything, including you. As plebes,
we were on the boxing team together. I think he weighed in at
about 125 pounds, but they didn't call him tiger for nothing,
and nothing could dampen his spirit." Dave graduated a second
lieutenant in the Infantry.
Following his basic Infantry schooling at Fort
Benning, GA, Dave was assigned to the 71st Infantry, 3rd Division
at Ft. Devens, MA. It was during this assignment that Dave married
Kathleen Hall on 17 December 1949 at Clemson, SC. In November
1950, he deployed with his unit to Korea where he earned the
Combat Infantry Badge. In February 1951, he moved up to Hqs.
3rd Division. It was back to the States for Dave for the Infantry
Advanced Course at Ft. Benning. The Barnetts then moved to Vermont
where Dave became Assistant PMS&T at the University of Vermont.
In 1955, the Barnetts traveled to Germany where Dave was assigned
to Seventh Army. It was back to the States in 1957 for Dave's
assignment to the 2nd Armored Division at Ft. Hood, TX. Then
in 1960, Dave attended the Command and General Staff College
at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. This was followed by a short tour to
Korea for Dave with the 7th Logistical Command. Returning to
the States, Dave was assigned to the Military District of Washington.
In 1965, he became advisor to the Venezuelan Military Academy
in Caracas. The Barnetts returned to the States for Dave's assignment
to the Army General Staff from which he retired in 1968 as a
Lt. Colonel.
Following retirement, Dave became Chief, Manpower
& Allocations Branch, Army Material Command (AMC), Washington,
DC. He served with AMC until retiring in 1988. In retirement,
Dave and Kathleen continued to live in their home in Alexandria,
VA. Dave was a very active golfer, bridge player and swimmer.
He was also active in his local civic associations.
Dave died 23 January 1998 from complications of
lung disease. His loving wife, Kathleen, and sons, David III
and Mark survive him.
Dave Barnett was special. Loved and respected by
family, friends and classmates, he was a warm and caring person,
a loving and devoted husband and father.
Classmate George Hall remembered: "Although
we were in the same cadet company, we never served together.
It wasn't until after retirement - in the 70s - that I met Dave
at the Ft Belvoir Golf Course, where we soon formed a regular
foursome. A number of years later, the group was increased to
ten or twelve still meeting three days a week. Even in inclement
weather, the group would meet at the clubhouse and play bridge
or cribbage. Dave was competent at both card games as well as
golf.
"In the spring, we would often travel to Myrtle
Beach, SC to enjoy its myriad golf courses and its weather. Being
basically a South Carolinian, we always deferred completely to
Dave's local knowledge as to where we would stay, eat, courses
to play and sights to see. He never failed us. Dave had a delightful
sense of humor. Additionally, he was extremely fluent in Spanish.
Occasionally he would combine these talents by regaling us with
witticisms in Spanish, some of which were double entendres in
that language. Dave was a true southern gentleman in every sense
of the term. He was always a gracious host, a joy to be with
and a wonderful, irreplaceable friend. I shall miss him dearly."
Friend, Bob Estes, recalled: "Dave and I started
playing golf in the same foursome with George Hall in 1973 and
continued to play until a few weeks before his death. At each
of our golf outings over the years, Dave had a new joke to tell.
His jokes were funny and always the highlight of the match. Dave
was a good man, deliberate, upright, forthright and decent. I
miss him!"
Jack Bodie: "I'll never forget Dave and only
regret that we didn't cross paths often enough after graduation.
My loss - now our loss!"
Dave epitomized what a West Pointer should represent.
The Class of 1946 proudly adds to the thoughts of his family
and friends, those words that would mean so much to him: "Well
Done, Dave; Be Thou At Peace!
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Kathleen
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