thedrifter
01-18-06, 05:35 AM
Former Lejeune general is dead
January 18,2006
BY Chris Mazzolini
Freedom ENC
Barker, 76, served as camp commander from 1978-81; six years later, he retired from Marines
JACKSONVILLE - Retired Maj. Gen. David Barker served in many capacities: Warrior, public servant, husband and father. In every one, he was a leader, friends said Tuesday.
Barker, a former commanding general of Camp Lejeune and the chairman of the Coastal Carolina Community College Board of Trustees, died Sunday at home. He was 76.
Ron Lingle, president of Coastal Carolina Community College and a close friend of Barker's, knew him for about 15 years. He said the general was a man with a natural ability to lead.
"Everything the guy touched, he just brought a level of leadership, he just filled people with confidence," Lingle said. "He was just such a skilled, experienced leader. Nothing fazed him at all. There were no problems too large to overcome."
That strength of will was with him at an early age. Born in Needham, Mass., Barker's family was anything but wealthy.
"He came from humble beginnings," Lingle said. "He used to say, 'The wrong side of the tracks? I couldn't even see the right side of the tracks where my family grew up.' "
Education became his road to the better side. His love for learning took him to Tufts College, where he graduated in 1951 with a degree in chemistry and biology.
But science couldn't keep him. Barker wanted to be a Marine. While attending Tufts, he participated in the Platoon Leaders Class program and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1951.
After joining the Marines, Barker distinguished himself in Korea and Vietnam. During his 36-year career, he served in combat units, training commands and everything in between. His first orders to Camp Lejeune came in 1953, when he became the commander of Artillery Battery, 2nd Marine Division.
His later returned to Camp Lejeune in 1978, as the base's commanding general. He served in that capacity until 1981. He served elsewhere until 1987, when he retired from the Marines. He settled in Hubert and never left - except to travel the world with Priscilla, his wife of 52 years.
Maj. Gen. Robert Dickerson, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East, said Barker always asked about the Marines during their regular chats.
"He always had the young Marines and their families in the forefront of his mind," Dickerson said. "He was still engaged and wanted to know what was going on."
Dickerson, who knew Barker since the early '90s, called him a "superb Marine" and a "great American."
"You don't make flag officer in the Marine Corps without being a superb officer," Dickerson said. "He cared about Marines. He always had their best interests in mind and heart."
Barker's service didn't end with the Marines. He also invested himself in the community.
He became a member of the Coastal Carolina Community College Board of Trustees, eventually becoming chairman. He served as chairman of the Eastern Carolina Economic Development Region and was a member of the Foundation Board for the Onslow County Museum.
He was also heavily involved in Swansboro United Methodist Church, where he served as chairman of its administrative board.
Bruce Gombar, Onslow County's economic development director, said Barker was going to be a member of the Marine Corps Museum of the Carolinas board of directors.
"General Barker was a guy that was kind of larger than life," Gombar said. "He was somebody who was friendly and caring, but at the same time he was kind of no-nonsense. You never were in doubt about where you stood with him."
And he's the kind of man the community may not see in a long time, Lingle said.
"I think guys like Gen. Barker come along, if you're lucky, once in your lifetime," he said. "For the community, it will be five or 10 years until people realize how much we've lost. He played so many roles, so quietly and effortlessly."
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Swansboro United Methodist Church. Barker will be buried with military honors at 2 p.m. at the Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville.
Contact staff writer Chris Mazzolini at cmazzolini@freedomenc.com or at 353-1171, Ext. 229.
Ellie
January 18,2006
BY Chris Mazzolini
Freedom ENC
Barker, 76, served as camp commander from 1978-81; six years later, he retired from Marines
JACKSONVILLE - Retired Maj. Gen. David Barker served in many capacities: Warrior, public servant, husband and father. In every one, he was a leader, friends said Tuesday.
Barker, a former commanding general of Camp Lejeune and the chairman of the Coastal Carolina Community College Board of Trustees, died Sunday at home. He was 76.
Ron Lingle, president of Coastal Carolina Community College and a close friend of Barker's, knew him for about 15 years. He said the general was a man with a natural ability to lead.
"Everything the guy touched, he just brought a level of leadership, he just filled people with confidence," Lingle said. "He was just such a skilled, experienced leader. Nothing fazed him at all. There were no problems too large to overcome."
That strength of will was with him at an early age. Born in Needham, Mass., Barker's family was anything but wealthy.
"He came from humble beginnings," Lingle said. "He used to say, 'The wrong side of the tracks? I couldn't even see the right side of the tracks where my family grew up.' "
Education became his road to the better side. His love for learning took him to Tufts College, where he graduated in 1951 with a degree in chemistry and biology.
But science couldn't keep him. Barker wanted to be a Marine. While attending Tufts, he participated in the Platoon Leaders Class program and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1951.
After joining the Marines, Barker distinguished himself in Korea and Vietnam. During his 36-year career, he served in combat units, training commands and everything in between. His first orders to Camp Lejeune came in 1953, when he became the commander of Artillery Battery, 2nd Marine Division.
His later returned to Camp Lejeune in 1978, as the base's commanding general. He served in that capacity until 1981. He served elsewhere until 1987, when he retired from the Marines. He settled in Hubert and never left - except to travel the world with Priscilla, his wife of 52 years.
Maj. Gen. Robert Dickerson, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East, said Barker always asked about the Marines during their regular chats.
"He always had the young Marines and their families in the forefront of his mind," Dickerson said. "He was still engaged and wanted to know what was going on."
Dickerson, who knew Barker since the early '90s, called him a "superb Marine" and a "great American."
"You don't make flag officer in the Marine Corps without being a superb officer," Dickerson said. "He cared about Marines. He always had their best interests in mind and heart."
Barker's service didn't end with the Marines. He also invested himself in the community.
He became a member of the Coastal Carolina Community College Board of Trustees, eventually becoming chairman. He served as chairman of the Eastern Carolina Economic Development Region and was a member of the Foundation Board for the Onslow County Museum.
He was also heavily involved in Swansboro United Methodist Church, where he served as chairman of its administrative board.
Bruce Gombar, Onslow County's economic development director, said Barker was going to be a member of the Marine Corps Museum of the Carolinas board of directors.
"General Barker was a guy that was kind of larger than life," Gombar said. "He was somebody who was friendly and caring, but at the same time he was kind of no-nonsense. You never were in doubt about where you stood with him."
And he's the kind of man the community may not see in a long time, Lingle said.
"I think guys like Gen. Barker come along, if you're lucky, once in your lifetime," he said. "For the community, it will be five or 10 years until people realize how much we've lost. He played so many roles, so quietly and effortlessly."
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Swansboro United Methodist Church. Barker will be buried with military honors at 2 p.m. at the Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville.
Contact staff writer Chris Mazzolini at cmazzolini@freedomenc.com or at 353-1171, Ext. 229.
Ellie