RTD Damaged by flak and ditched in channel on August 9 1944 in B-24 #4278483, treated for a severe head injury by the French underground who eventually aided him in returning to his unit.



Barney was a good man who stepped up when needed by his country like so many of his generation.

His war was never discussed but his injuries resulting from ditching in the channel went deeper than just a severe head wound and eventually led to his death many years later.



He studied music and qualified as a teacher, settling with Blanche in the Bay Area of California to raise their 5 children. Blanche died too young and Barney continued to make a life for their kids though it certainly wasn't easy. Darkness was often dispelled by a drink or two and knowing what I do now, there is an acceptance of what was damned hard by anyone's measure. In the end he did his best which all anyone could expect - even him.



For me, I prefer to remember the positive things about my dad.

*the sound of the violin in the early morning when he was practising

*his cooking which was as delicious as it was adventurous

*his very dry sense of humour that I really got

*during tough times, he never, ever gave up



He was proud of our achievements though light on praise (at least within our hearing) and his words of wisdom often come to mind, like - If they give you lined paper, write the other way!

I am who I am because of him in so many, many ways and I thank him for his courage and tenacity.