This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Alan Barber-Family
to remember
Barber, Willis Albert (Bill), PO1.
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Contact Info
Last Address Concord, NC
Date of Passing Dec 03, 2007
Location of Interment Remains Cremated, United States
Wall/Plot Coordinates Ashes scattered on a golf course in Greenville, SC
Married Ellen McClellan from hometown. Raised four sons and died surrounded by his entire family including four grandchildren.
Retired in 1981 after a long career in Textile Management (Cotton Procurement).
Active Golfer until 1990s, avid gin player. Move to a retirement home in Mt. Pleasant, SC in early 2000s. Died after several months of declining health at the age of 88.
Other Comments:
Willis Barber enter the service in December 19, 1941 Shortly after Pearl Harbor in the V-6 Program which is enlisted for the duration of the war only .
He was next recorded in the US Navy Muster Reports in January 1942. as being at the Naval Air Station at Quonset Point fro training, Curios that the fact the he was Yeoman 3rd Class Petty Officer E-4. During WW2 if you had good skills you were ranked high as enlisted. He was attached to Naval Air attached me from January to August for training in 1942.
Aug 1942 he was sent to the USS Cleveland CL-55 as part of the Aviation Attachment. This was US Navy Cruiser but had 4 Curtiss SOC Seagull seaplanes. He was still listed as yeoman until 13 Sept 1943 when his rate was changed from Y3C (Yeoman 3rd Class Petty Officer) to ARM3 (Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Petty Officer)
November 4 to December 6, 1943 the was head Temporay Duty at Halavo Air Station Halavo Bay on Florida Island in the Solomons.
May 1, 1944 he was promoted to ARM2C (Avaiation Radioman 2nd Class Petty Officer) on the USS Cleveland.
From Octber 21 to December 15, 1944 many members of the crew, including Bill, were temporarily based ashore at US Naval Air Station Terminal Island in San Pedro, CA.
Febuary 1, 1945 He was promoted to ARM1c (Avaiation Radioman 1st Class Petty Officer) on the USS Cleveland.
March 10, 1945 Bill Was transferred to Commander Fleet Air in Califonia for reassignment. There are not futher muster reports for him after this date.
All above information was from Ancestory.com U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949.
