Tuesday, June 20,
Okinawa:
1943,
In the New Church, a
very important part of
our values is our love of
country. In every war
since World War I, New
Church men have given
their lives protecting
what is just and right,
good and merciful,
in every community
across this great nation.
It has been a pretty long time
since I wrote, but not too much has
happened. The only thing you
would be interested in is the fact
that after I was discharged from
that Navy Hospital, I returned
to my company. Four days later,
still on the front lines {the enemy}
opened up on us as we were digging
foxholes later in the afternoon with
a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun. That
shows how desperate they are.
Now I am [back] in an Army
Hospital and tomorrow I will be
back with my company on the front
lines. A guy’s luck can run out, even
mine, and I can’t last forever. Barsness and I thought we were immune
to such stuff, but Barsness is gone and I am left by myself now. He was
the best buddy I ever had, he was so close if not closer to me than [my
brother].
I am not ashamed to say I cried many nights after it happened. I
wish I could get a case of amnesia or something for a guy’s memory can
just about drive him nuts at times.
I hope everybody is all right at home. Give them my love. No
telling when I will get another chance to write so… All my love, your
youngest son. 1
Though the writer of the diary felt he was left alone, the Lord was by his
side, protecting and preserving him for a greater usefulness in the years ahead.
Though he was spared, and though his best friend gave his life, both were
willing to give the last full measure of devotion 2 to preserve the good in this
1 The War Diary of John Barry
2 “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did
here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here
have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before
us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last
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