Horrific memories on the front lines of war are still vivid for U.S. Army Major General Charles Barr of Liberty, Nebraska.
kAmp E9:C5 86?6C2E:@? pC>J D@=5:6C[ |2;@C v6?6C2= q2CC ?@H 72C>D 4@C?[ D@J362?D 2?5 92J 2?5 92D 2 4@H\42=7 @A6C2E:@? H:E9 9:D D@?[ s2?:6=[ 3C@E96C[ $<:A[ 2?5 ?6A96H[ {66]k^Am
kAmq2CC C642==D E96 :?E6?D6[ 8FE\HC6?49:?8 E:>6D H96? E96 E9C62E @7 C@25D:56 3@>3D :?E6?D:7:65 ;FDE 367@C6 96 2CC:G65 :? zFH2:E :? a__d] x? 9:D J62C @7 4@>>2?5[ D:I D@=5:6CD 2?5 EH@ 2:C>6? H6C6 EC28:42==J <:==65 2D 2 C6DF=E @7 6?6>J xtsD – :>AC@G:D65 6IA=@D:G6 56G:46D]k^Am
kAm(:E9 :>>6?D6 C6DA64E 7@C E96 6:89E >6? <:==65 5FC:?8 E96 E6?FC6 @7 9:D 4@>>2?5[ q2CC A6CD@?2==J EC2G6=65 E@ 6249 @7 E96:C 8C2G6D E@ 9@?@C E96> 2?5 E96:C F=E:>2E6 D6CG:46 E@ p>6C:42]k^Am
kAmu@FC 2C6 3FC:65 2E pC=:?8E@? }2E:@?2= r6>6E6CJ[ EH@ 2C6 :? 5:776C6?E 46>6E6C:6D :? q2=E:>@C6[ 2?5 EH@ 2C6 3FC:65 :? (:D4@?D:?]k^Am
kAm~7 E96 7@FC 3FC:65 2E pC=:?8E@?[ $E277 $6C862?E qC:2? |4t=C@J 2?5 %649 $6C862?E y2D@? }@CE@? H6C6 E96:C EH@ 2:C>6? <:==65 y2?] aa[ a__e ?62C %2;:[ xC2B 3J 2? xts E92E 6?8F=765 E96:C 8F? ECF4< :? 7=2>6D] %96J’C6 3FC:65 4=@D6 E@ E96 $A246 $9FEE=6 r92==6?86C 4C6H >6>36CD[ q2CC D2:5] w6 C6>6>36CD |4t=C@J 2?5 }@CE@?[ 6G6? E9@F89 96 5:5 ?@E <?@H E96> A6CD@?2==J]k^Am
kAms2JD 367@C6 96 5:65[ q2CC >66E 2?5 62E H:E9 r@CA@C2= q6C?2C5 r6@[ H9@ :D 2=D@ 3FC:65 2E pC=:?8E@?] r6@ H2D <:==65 :? 2 8F? ECF4< 4C2D9 ~4E] `c[ a__d]k^Am
kAmw6 56D4C:365 E96 4C2D9i “r@CA@C2= r6@[ pC>J $A64:2=:DE $2> q@DH6== 2?5 $E277 $6C862?E qC:2? r@??@C 5:65 :? E92E 8F? ECF4< 4C2D9 H96? E96J C62C\6?565 2 D6>:\ECF4< :? E96:C 4@?G@J 2D E92E ECF4< DE@AA65 :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 C@25[ :? E96 52C< @7 E96 ?:89E 2?5 D9FE 9:D =:89ED @77]”k^Am
Retired Major General Charles Barr, left, poses with nephew Corporal Regan Barr at Forward Operating Base at Bi’Aj, Iraq, near the Syrian border Feb. 14, 2006. Barr arrived in Iraq just as the threat from roadside bombs intensified, and he lost eight men during his tenure.
Submitted photo
kAm%96 7@FCE9 D@=5:6C 3FC:65 2E pC=:?8E@? :D pC>J $E277 $6C862?E |:4926= |4|F==6?[ 2 9:89=J 564@C2E65 D@=5:6C]k^Am
kAm“|4|F==6? H2D 2?@E96C @7 @FC >2?J >@3:=:K65 pC>J }2E:@?2= vF2C5 D@=5:6CD H9@ H2D 2H2C565 2 $:=G6C $E2C A@DE9F>@FD=J 27E6C C6D4F:?8 $E277 $6C862?E s:G2=[ H9@D6 F?:7@C> H2D 23=2K6 7C@> 9:D 3FC?:?8 D6>: EC24E@C\EC2:=6C @? s64] ac[ a__d 2E r2>A r@CC68:5@C ?62C #2>25:[ xC2B[” q2CC D2:5]k^Am
kAms:G2=VD ECF4< H2D ?62C E96 7C@?E :? 2 =@?8 4@?G@J[ 2?5 H2D 9:E 3J 2? xts 27E6C 6I:E:?8 E96 42>A] |4|F==6?[ 2 7:C67:89E6C H:E9 E96 $2=:D3FCJ[ |2CJ=2?5[ 7:C6 56A2CE>6?E[ H6?E E@H2C5 E96 7:C6[ ?@E 2H2J[ q2CC D2:5] w6 H6?E 282:?DE DE2?52C5 pC>J @A6C2E:@?D 7@C 4@?G@JD 2?5 E@ E96 3FC?:?8 G69:4=6 3J >2?6FG6C:?8 9:D ECF4< 2=@?8 E96 D:56 @7 E96 C@25 E@ 86E 4=@D6]k^Am
kAm%96C6[ 96 5:D>@F?E65 7C@> 9:D 2C>@C\AC@E64E65 ECF4< 423 2?5 C2?[ 6?E:C6=J 6IA@D65 E@ 6?6>J 7:C6[ E@ J2?< s:G2= 7C@> 9:D 3FC?:?8 ECF4<] w6 C@==65 9:> @? E96 8C@F?5 E@ 6IE:?8F:D9 E96 7=2>6D @? 9:>]k^Am
kAm“pE E92E >@>6?E[ 2?@E96C xts 6IA=@565 D6?5:?8 D9C2A?6= :?E@ |4|F==:?VD 324<[ 36=@H 9:D 3@5J 2C>@C AC@E64E:G6 G6DE[ 42FD:?8 2 DA:?2= H@F?5[” q2CC D2:5]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 s:G2= DFCG:G65[ |4|F==6? =:G65 7@C @?=J 2 76H H66<D] p7E6C 36:?8 >65:G24<65 E@ q289525[ E96? {2?5DEF9=[ v6C>2?J[ 2?5 7:?2==J (2=E6C #665 w@DA:E2= :? (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r][ |4|F==:? DF44F>365 E@ 9:D H@F?5D] |4|F==:?’D $:=G6C $E2C |652= H2D 2AAC@G65 3J E96 E:>6 @7 9:D 3FC:2= 2E pC=:?8E@? }2E:@?2= r6>6E6CJ 2?5 AC6D6?E65 E@ 9:D 72>:=J 2E 9:D 3FC:2= D6CG:46[ q2CC D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 |2;@C v6?6C2=’D pC>J 9:DE@CJ 8@6D 324<[ 2?5 7@CH2C5 D6G6C2= 86?6C2E:@?D]k^Am
Major General Charles Barr poses for an official Army photo just before his retirement. He served in the Army Reserves after five years of active duty.
Submitted photo
kAmq2CC’D 72E96C[ y]s] q2CC[ D6CG65 :? E96 &]$] }2GJ pC>65 vF2C5 :? (@C=5 (2C xx 2D 2? 2?E:\2:C4C27E 8F??6C @? 3@2C5 EH@ 5:776C6?E >6C492?E D9:AD :? E96 pE=2?E:4[ !24:7:4 2?5 x?5:2? @462?D 2?5 E96 |65:E6CC2?62? $62]k^Am
kAmq2CC’D 8C2?572E96C D6CG65 :? (@C=5 (2C x 3FE 4@F=5?’E 8@ @G6CD62D 3642FD6 @7 E96 $A2?:D9 7=F A2?56>:4 E92E 9:E r2>A uF?DE@?^u@CE #:=6J[ z2?D2D[ H96? 96 H2D :? 3@@E 42>A]k^Am
kAmq2CC’D 3C@E96C[ y@9?[ D6CG65 :? E96 &]$] pC>J :? v6C>2?J 2?5 5FC:?8 E96 r@=5 (2C] y@9? q2CC FD65 9:D v]x] 65F42E:@? 3:== E@ 7FCE96C 9:D 2G:2E:@? EC2:?:?8] p7E6C 36:?8 2 7:I65 H:?8 2:C7C2>6 2?5 A@H6C A=2?E >6492?:4 2?5 2 FE:=:EJ 96=:4@AE6C >6492?:4 2?5 4C6H 49:67[ 96 8@E 2 ;@3 H:E9 2 D>2== 2:C=:?6] w6 6G6?EF2==J 7=6H 7@C p>6C:42? p:C=:?6D 7@C >2?J J62CD F?E:= 96 C6E:C65]k^Am
kAmq2CC’D D@?[ r2AE2:? #@DD q2CC[ :D E96 #r\`bd A:=@E :? E96 &]$] p:C u@C46] s2F89E6C y6??J q2CC (:4<92> :D 2 r2AE2:? :? E96 }63C2D<2 pC>J }2E:@?2= vF2C5[ 2?5 2 ?FCD6 AC24E:E:@?6C :? 96C 4:G:=:2? ;@3 2E E96 (63DE6C r@F?EJ w@DA:E2= 2?5 r=:?:4 :? #65 r=@F5[ }63C2D<2[ 2?5 2 4:E:K6? D@=5:6C :? 2 >65:42= 56E249>6?E]k^Am
kAmq2CC’D ?6A96H[ &]$] pC>J r2AE2:? #682? q2CC[ :D ?@H 56A=@J65 E@ $@FE9 z@C62] p?@E96C ?6A96H[ r9:67 |2DE6C $6C862?E y q2CC[ 56A=@J65 EH:46 E@ p7892?:DE2? 2?5 :D 2 4@>32E 4@?EC@==6C :? E96 p:C u@C46 $A64:2= u@C46D[ AC6A2C:?8 7@C 2 J62C\=@?8 56A=@J>6?E E@ {2EG:2]k^Am
kAm%92?<D E@ 2? pC>J #6D6CG6 ~77:46C %C2:?:?8 r@CAD W#~%rX D49@=2CD9:A ;FDE AC:@C E@ 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E:@?[ E96 |2;@C v6?6C2= H2D 23=6 E@ 6?C@== :? E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2[ >2;@C :? >6492?:K65 28C:4F=EFC6] w6 4@>A=6E65 7@FC J62CD @7 pC>J #~%r] q2CC H2D 4@>>:DD:@?65 :?E@ E96 C68F=2C pC>J E96 D2>6 52J E92E 96 C646:G65 9:D q2496=@C @7 $4:6?46 568C66]k^Am
Army veteran Charles Barr loads corn on his farm near Liberty, Neb.
Submitted photo
kAm%96 G6CJ ?6IE |@?52J[ 96 7=6H E@ u@CE {6H:D[ (2D9:?8E@?[ 2?5 3682? 9:D 24E:G6 5FEJ D6CG:46]k^Am
kAmvC@H:?8 FA @? 2 72C> 96=A65 AC@G:56 2 D@=:5 7@F?52E:@? 2?5 AC@5F465 2? :?E6C6DE :? 72C>:?8]k^Am
kAm“|J 72E96C 2?5 72>:=J 8@E >6 :?G@=G65 :? 72C>:?8 7C@> E96 E:>6 x H2D @=5 6?@F89 E@ 5C:G6 2 EC24E@C[” q2CC D2:5 C642==:?8 9:D 7@FCE9\8C256 D6=7 @? 2 EH@\C@H 4F=E:G2E@C 2?5 5C:G:?8 E96 32=6C EC24E@C] “*@F 42?VE DF82C 4@2E :E]”k^Am
kAm%96 pC>J A2:5 q2CC’D EF:E:@? 2?5 3@@<D 7@C 9:D 4@==686 65F42E:@? :? 28C:4F=EFC6]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 9:D 7:G6 J62CD @7 24E:G6 5FEJ[ 96 D2G65 6?@F89 >@?6J 7C@> 9:D >@56DE >@?E9=J pC>J D2=2CJ E@ 3FJ 2 ?6H y@9? s66C6 ccc_ EC24E@C 2?5 2 FD65 5:D< E@ AF== 369:?5 :E] $@[ H96? 96 C6D:8?65 7C@> 24E:G6 5FEJ 2?5 EC2?D76CC65 E@ E96 &]$] pC>J #6D6CG6[ q2CC 3682? 72C>:?8 @? 9:D @H?]k^Am
kAm%@ 96=A q2CC H9:=6 96 H2D >@3:=:K65[ 9:D 3C@E96C[ $<:A[ 2?5 9:D :?\=2HD 96=A65 H:E9 A=2?E:?8[ 92CG6DE 2?5 >@G:?8 42EE=6] q2CC’D H:76[ |2CD92[ E96:C E9C66 49:=5C6? 2?5 ?6:893@CD 96=A65 9@H6G6C E96J 4@F=5]k^Am
kAmq2CC H2D :? zFH2:E 7@C E96 2DD2F=E :?E@ xC2B 2?5 E96 E2<:?8 5@H? @7 xC2B: !C6D:56?E $2552> wFDD6:?] w6 H6?E 9@>6 7@C EH@ J62CD[ 3FE H2D 42==65 FA :? yF=J a__d 7@C 2 J62C E@ =625 E96 `cbC5 %C2?DA@CE2E:@? r@>>2?5[ @G6CD66:?8 c[c__ D@=5:6CD[ D2:=@CD[ r@2DE vF2C5 2?5 p:C u@C46 A6CD@??6=] pE E96 E:>6[ 96 H2D 2 qC:825:6C v6?6C2=]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D 2 9F86 ;@3[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 @A6C2E:@? 2?5 4=62C:?8 @7 42C8@ 2?5 C@==:?8 DE@4< 4@>:?8 :?E@ zFH2:EVD D62A@CED[ @G6CD66:?8 EC277:4 >@G6>6?E 4@?EC@= E9C@F89@FE zFH2:E[ 4=62C:?8 2:CA@CED @7 42C8@ 2?5 EC@@AD[ 2?5 7@C46 AC@E64E:@? @7 E96 zFH2:E D62A@CED[” q2CC D2:5]k^Am
kAmxE H2D 2=D@ E92E :?E6?D6[ 962CE\HC6?49:?8 E:>6 F?56C q2CC’D 4@>>2?5 H96? 96 D2H E96:C 8F? ECF4< 56DEC@J65 2?5 E96 D@=5:6CD <:==65 :? 24E:@?]k^Am
kAm“(6==[ xVG6 8@E E92E @77 >J 496DE] x DFAA@D6 :E :D >J E96C2AJ[” q2CC D2:5] “x H:== ?6G6C 7@C86E H92E E96J 82G6] %96J 82G6 2== E96J 925]”k^Am
Reporter Amy Hadachek is a two-time Emmy Award winning meteorologist and a storm chaser who earned her NWA and AMS Broadcast Meteorology Seals of Approval. She and her husband live on a diversified farm in Kansas. Reach her at amy.hadachek@midwestmessenger.com .
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
