This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Billy Williams, MM1
to remember
Barnhart, Donald, GM2c.
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Contact Info
Last Address Torrance, California
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Last Known Activity:
Donald Ray Barnhart was born in Long Beach, CA on 29Mar13
Donald Ray Barnhart was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, CA on 31Jan31.
From 02Jun33 to 08Aug33, Don was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps employed in the War Department as a Painter at March Field, Camp F-23 at Hilt, California. His service number was CC-9-72091 and the place was run by the Army Corp of Engineers, Charles S. Pope 1st LT, Engineers Reservist Commanding.
Donald Ray Barnhart entered the Navy through RTC San Diego, CA on 16Aug33. Don's Navy Service number was 380-79-97. He was transferred on Monday, 04Dec33 to the USS Chester as an AS, USN to San Pedro, CA. He served on board the USS Chester, the USS Oglala, Back to the USS CHester, and was Honorably Discharged after 4 years from the Receiving Ship, San Diego, CA on 16Jul37.
After his initial Naval service, Don was employed by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation as a wing & tail assembler "C" and Electro-Plater. Don was employed from 21Jan42 to 28Aug42. He left he company voluntarily to reenlist in the Navy on 27Aug42.
Don was recalled to the US Naval Reserves as a GM2 to train gunnery crews in World War II. The Letter from the Navy Department Bureau of Naval Personel dated 18Jun42 reads as follows:
Dear Sir,
Your country is in urgent need of the experience you gained during your service in the Navy, the tremendous expansion of the shore establishments, the over-seas bases, and the sea-going forces have created a shortage of experienced personnel.
The records of the Bureau indicate that you were discharged during the past ten years. If you are found to be physically and otherwise qualified, and were discharged between 01Jul32 and 06Dec41 with an honorable discharge, recommended for reenlistment, the Navy will welcome your return provided you are not over 501/2 years of age, and urges you to call at your nearest Navy Recruiting Station where the Officer-in-Charge has the authority to effect your reenlistment in class V-6, US Naval Reserve.
If you were paid off as a Petty Officer, you will be shipped over in a rating one grade higher than that you held at discharge, not to exceed Chief Petty Officer (AA). If you were discharged as a non-rated man - messman branch excepted - you will be reenlisted as a Petty Officer, Third Class; if you were in the messman branch you will be reenlisted in a rating one grade higher than that held at discharge not to exceed Officer's Cheif Steward (AA) or Officer's Cheif Cook (AA).
Pay is better now than it was when you were paid off by virtue of the new pay bill signed by the President on 17Jun42 and in addition there is legislation pending (approved by the Navy Department) which on enactment will provide an additional allowance for dependents
THINK THIS OVER - YOUR NAVY NEEDS YOU NOW!
Signed Randall Jacobs, Cheif of Naval Personnel
Donald Barnhart reenlisted into the Navy Reserve on 27Aug42. He served 3 years, 2 months, and 2 days. He served on the followong ships: USS California (in which he advanced to GM2 on 01Apr43), USS Pittsburgh, and the USS Chicago. Donald Barnhart attended the refresher course Fleet Electric Hydraulic School in San Diego, Ca and graduated on 13Nov42 as a GM3. He was Honorably Discharged as a GM2 on 28Oct45 from the US Naval Personnel Separation Center in Shoemaker, CA.
Other Comments:
Donald Barnhart is my EX-wife's grandfather on her mother's side.
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Description The plan of the Pacific subseries was determined by the geography, strategy, and the military organization of a theater largely oceanic. Two independent, coordinate commands, one in the Southwest Pacific under General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and the other in the Central, South, and North Pacific (Pacific Ocean Areas) under Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, were created early in the war. Except in the South and Southwest Pacific, each conducted its own operations with its own ground, air, and naval forces in widely separated areas. These operations required at first only a relatively small number of troops whose efforts often yielded strategic gains which cannot be measured by the size of the forces involved. Indeed, the nature of the objectivesùsmall islands, coral atolls, and jungle-bound harbors and airstrips, made the employment of large ground forces impossible and highlighted the importance of air and naval operations. Thus, until 1945, the war in the Pacific progressed by a double series of amphibious operations each of which fitted into a strategic pattern developed in Washington.
