Mom’s signature required for enlistment

During World War II, as with all wars, there were those who manned the frontline and those who were behind it, but all contributed in some way to the success of the Allied forces, including Oklahoma native John Barnes.
Barnes, who was born January 18, 1923, between Asher and Wanette to John William and Lavinnie “Vinnie” (Muller) Barnes, joined the U.S. Army Air Corps shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. As the youngest son — he was 12th of 13 children — he had to have the agreement and signature of his mother before he could join.
Prior to joining what is known today as the United States Air Force on Dec. 15, 1941, Barnes worked with the Civil Soil Conservation in a camp in Colorado.
“That stuff out there the CSC boys built hadn’t come down yet,” Barnes said. “A lot of these young boys need to do that. It makes them appreciate life.”
The ability to work hard, not for the money, but for the knowledge that it would do the community — or the world in some cases — good is one of the benefits Barnes said he gained from his time with the CSC.
That work ethic helped Barnes fulfill his duties to the Allied forces as a private first class, now known as an E-3.
“I was a private and proud of it,” Barnes said.
His responsibilities during his service for a term of “the war plus six” months included hauling gasoline, refueling planes and much more. His title was heavy equipment operator.
“We were always 20 miles behind the front line at all times, except in Italy,” Barnes said. “We did whatever we had to do. Whatever we had to do, that’s what we did. We did just about everything.”
Barnes’ spell with the military began in Fort Sill and continued to Shepherd Air Force Base in Texas and then returned him, “Right back to Oklahoma City.”
From there, he boarded a train headed to New Jersey.
“We crossed Tennessee three times,” Barnes said of the trip to New Jersey. “It was all secret then, you couldn’t say anything about where you were going or about the war.”
While in New Jersey, Barnes bought a guitar for the trip across the ocean to Casablanca, North Africa. He and others boarded the USS Susan B. Anthony, and Barnes and some buddies asked if they could play some music during the trip.
“We talked to the captain to let us play in the hold,” he said. “A guy played an old song, ‘Hawaiian Sunset’ — it was real popular back then. You would’ve thought it was raining from all the tears.”
Barnes went onto do three campaigns in North Africa, where he spent 18 months and received three bronze stars. Then Barnes “flew across the ocean in a C-47” to Sardenia, Italy.
Nearing the end of the war, Barnes purchased a Harley Davidson motorcycle, which had been made of spare parts, for $80.
“I wish I’d kept onto it,” Barnes said. “The commander made us get rid of it, said someone was going to get hurt. I sold it for $300.”
Barnes said he still plays guitar and that his dad taught him to play a jaw harp. He later learned to play harmonica and had three lessons on the fiddle, he said.
He still enjoys collecting, repairing and playing fiddles, guitars and other instruments today.
Barnes said the trip out across the ocean took 14 days and the trip coming back lasted 10 days. On the way back, he rode “right up behind the engine halfway home.”
Barnes also recalled having malaria fever and passing out.
“They covered me with newspapers and all the blankets they could find,” he said. “I was there two or three days in the infirmary.”
Although his tour ended shortly after the war, his oath and his drive to give back to the community did not, he said.
“We took an oath and we’re still under that oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” he said.
Barnes also attempted to give back to the youth of the U.S. through his music and an organization called Fiddlin’ and Foot Stompin’ in California, he said.
“I wanted to get kids out of this street business, get them interested in music,” he said.
Barnes has two children, one each from his first two wives, a son, Benny John Barnes, and a daughter, Fanita LaJuan (Barnes) Taylor.
He married his third wife, Pauline (Taute), about 25 years ago, he said. The couple sold their home and land near Guthrie and moved to Tecumseh about a year and a half ago, he said.
Barnes is part Cherokee — on his father’s side, and Potawatomi — on his mother’s side.
Barnes continues to respect his fellow servicemen and servicewomen and recently requested that fellow World War II veterans contact him to participate in a free flight, an Honor Flight, to see a national memorial made in their honor.
“You know, we saw a lot and people don’t know it,” Barnes said. “I saw one B-17 crash in Africa — it was making a beautiful approach coming in and just crashed. You sit down and think of all this stuff but I try not to let it bother me.”
Instead of letting the troubling memories crowd his mind, Barnes prefers to remember the good times and the people he met, he said. And he does what he can to make sure others are honored for their service.