Bareford, Lawrence Mark, FC2

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY?
According to Mark.s Mother in a news article; Joined the joined the Navy because of the "tremendous education" he would get. "It's quite an expensive bit of schooling," she said.

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
Mark went to boot camp in Early 1984 in Great Lakes RTC. After boot camp he went moved to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center Side and took the self-paced course of Basic Electronics and Electricity, better known as B double E and then Fire Control Technician "A" School for 6 months Upon Graduations of "A" School and was Frocked to Petty Officer Third Class Fire Contolmen. He then received orders to MK 92 Fire Control System School in Dam Neck VA. He spent approximately 8 months in "C" School and then got orders to USS Stark FFG31 in 1985 in Mayport, Florida. Mark was spent approximately 1 ½ years onboard the Stark before being seriously injured during the May 17, 1987 USS Stark Attack. Mark spent the next 2 years on shore duty recovering from his injuries. He returned to shipboard life in late 1989 onboard the USS Clark FFG-11 Till June 1990. After serving honorably he was discharged in 1990.

IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
Mark was in the Persian Gulf on the USS Stark. The USS Stark was a member of a US naval task force sent to the Persian Gulf to keep the Gulf open for shipping during the Iran-Iraq War. Stark was one of those ships providing Escort Duty for Kuwaiti Oil Tankers. On May 17, 1987 the deadly attach of USS Stark with a loss of life of 37 sailors killed and several severely injured. Mark was one of two men that were burned by the Iraqi Attack on the Stark with 2 Exocet missiles that was evacuated to Germany to the US.
The Second was when Mark returned the USS Clark FFG-11 in Philadelphia. PA in 1989 to 1990. This combat operations was the presidents war on drugs called the Counter Drug Operations/Caribbean 1985 (1985 - 1988).

OF ALL THEIR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY HE/SHE HAD FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS THEIR LEAST FAVORITE?
Mark?s Mother related in article that Mark was very proud of the USS Stark and had taken his family on a tour of it in November of 1986, when they came to visit.

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FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
The attached story of the USS Stark was a major incident in Mark's Life in the Navy and caused him many health issues. He did not like to discuss it because he did not feel like he did anything heroic. He was quoted in a newspaper article: Below

Mark Received the Purple Heart and was asked if he felt like a hero. He Answered. "No. I didn't do anything heroic. I just survived."

The following is his words about the incident in Sept 1987 to Navy Base at Dahlgren VA. Newspaper

Twenty-three-year-old Mark L. Bareford, USN, a Fire Control Technician Second Class, and one of the survivors of the USS Stark (FFG-3 1) incident, recounted his story about one evening in May in the Persian Gulf when an Iraqi warplane fired two missiles on the ship, killing 37 and wounding many others.

Bareford, related the events of that traumatic ordeal to On the Surface in an elusive interview. "I had always felt extremely safe onboard the Stark." he said. "In fact the week of the incident, I had spoken with my mother and told her there were no problems. I felt in my mind that nobody there in the Persian Gulf would pick on the U.S. We were in international waters and there were several other ships around the area, including USS Kittyhawk (CV-63). I didn't feel worried. "

But on 17 May at 21:12 , the first missile hit Stark. Bareford recalled that he, along with others who were in the lounge watching a movie, didn't realize it was a missile.

"The first missile didn't explode. There was a loud boom and a lot of water and smoke. I was very confused.

"There was no explosion-no fire. I thought something had gone wrong with the generator," he said.

Bareford explained that he hurriedly left the lounge to go to GQ station in the CIC to see what had happened.

"When I got outside the lounge, water and smoke were everywhere. I was standing at the bottom of the ladder to go up to the next deck when the second missile hit," he said.

"The second missile went down through the deck I was on, crossed it, and went into the ship's control berthing. Then I realized it indeed was a missile.
Petty Officer Wheeler, who was in the hospital with me, was at the top of the ladder and the ladder just blew out from under him. He fell through onto the deck I was on in the midst of all the wounded men," he said somberly.

At the point a thought crossed his mind- something he'd seen on the side of a milk carton: Stop. Drop and Roll!

"For some reason, that stupid milk carton popped into my mind." He said amusedly. ?So I stopped and rolled. I didn't think I was on fire, but the heat was so intense, like a huge oven. I held my breath for what must have been 45 seconds, until I could get outside for fresh air. But there was no fresh air.? He said.

Bareford Realized the severity of his burns while he was out on the boat deck and instinctively knew he needed help.

"I went back into the door and to Radio Control Central and they administered first-aid. I had shrapnel in my back. They covered me and kept me out of shock," he explained.

Bareford , in a hushed voice, said that there was no way to describe the ordeal. He Said. "There were terrible screams. I couldn't go back to help because I knew, if I died, I couldn't help that person and there would be two casualties. "

He compared the tragedy to a loss of one large family.

"There were approximately 200 on board and I felt I had lost one quarter of my family at one crack. We were all close. When you eat, sleep and work with people all the time, there is a strong bond there," he said with sadness and reminiscence.

How many were hurt, dead or alive, Bareford didn't know at the time.

"My thoughts were, 'How are they getting me out of here? I wonder how badly I 'm hurt?' I refused to look down at myself. I kept my hands across my chest. "

Mark was flown to Bahrain and was taken to an Air Force Base in Wiesbaden, Germany, because it was closest. He later was taken to Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, 'Texas, for skin grafts and further treatment. He suffered flash burns on his eyes and was temporarily blinded, but his eyesight returned. He also received a hearing loss in one ear and second- and third-degree burns on his arms, legs, ear and face. He remained hospitalized for a month; and he did undergo therapy for long after.

"I have to wear a support stocking for a year and a half," he said. "My skin is thin; I can't take extreme temperature changes, and standing for long periods of time tires me easily," he said .

"I feel very sorry for the families of those men who lost their lives and I sometimes think someone must have been looking out for me." He Said.

Mark Received the Purple Heart and was asked if he felt like a hero. He Answered. "No. I didn't do anything heroic. I just survived."

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
Mark Received the Purple Heart for injuries received during the USS Stark (FFG-31) attack

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
Learning to Drive Stick left handed and drive on the right side of the road in Grand Cayman while on liberty, in a rent-a-car. Challenging is the best word to describe it.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
Mark pursued teaching and was a reMARKable Elementary School teacher until his death. Love by all his students