The American flag will be raised Friday at the Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center in honor of Thomas Barnaby as part of the center's Flags of Honor program.
Barnaby was born in Ashland March 22, 1913, to George and Mary Barnaby. He was a longtime resident of Superior until moving to Lake Nebagamon in 1966 with his wife Margaret "Mickey," daughter, Michele and son, Richard. His oldest son, Michael preceded him in death on Sept. 17, 1966.
Barnaby began his military career on Jan. 14, 1932, by joining the National Guard and served until Jan. 13, 1935. He was discharged as a private; excellent character. He also attended Superior State Teachers College (UWS) for two years during this time and majored in mathematics.
From 1935 until June of 1942 he worked as a brakeman for the Soo Line Railroad. On June 11, 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army in Milwaukee. From June until September he was in basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., earning the rank of corporal and also a "sharp-shooter."
From Sept. 28, 1942, until Dec. 22, 1942, he attended Officers Candidate School in Fort Belvoir, Va., in the Third Engineer School Regiment, Company Z. After graduation he served at bases across the U.S. including Tucson, Ariz., and Colombia, S.C., working in such jobs as general service engineer unit commander, synthetic training aids and engineer equipment maintenance and repair officer.
ADVERTISEMENT
As commanding officer of the 762nd Engineer Light Equipment Company, he supervised the employment of 114 enlisted men in the use and maintenance of all types of heavy equipment. As a training officer he set up and coordinated training courses and schedules in surveying, carpentry, welding and types of heavy equipment. He served nine months overseas in the Asia-Pacific Theater earning three awards: Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal, American Theater Medal and the WW II Victory Medal. He earned the rank of first lieutenant by June of 1946 when he separated from the service.
He was a longtime member of the St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Lake Nebagamon, the Douglas County Bong-Hofstead American Legion Post 409 and the Superior Elks Lodge. He retired from the Soo Line Railroad after 40 years of work.
He has two remaining children, Michele Hughes (Leo), and Richard Barnaby, (Patricia) both of Lake Nebagamon. He has five grandchildren, Travis Hanson (Angela) Lake Nebagamon, Ryan Hanson (Michelle), Newburyport, Mass., Jennifer Barnaby, Superior, Christina and Michael Barnaby, Lakc Nebagamon. His two great-grandchildren, Isabella and Sophia Hanson, currently reside in Lake Nebagamon.
The Flags of Honor program was organized by John Vaski, a member of the Richard I. Bong American Legion Post 435, and Poplar resident Hope Swenson, a volunteer at the heritage center. It honors one deceased World War II veteran each week. A flag in the veteran's memory is lofted on a Friday by members of Post 435 and members of the Thomas F. Stein VFW Post 1091. It is lowered the following Friday. The ceremony takes place in front of the heritage center and is open to the public.
There is no cost for the program. A biography and picture of the veteran to be honored are required, but there are flags available at the center that can be flown for a veteran if the family is unable to send one.
For more information on the Flags of Honor program or to set up a time for your loved one's flag to fly, call the Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center at (715) 392-7151 or 392-4558.
