Posted by Fred Mayer on November 14, 2005:

EULOGY OF J. BARRIE WILLIAMS BY FRED MAYER NOV 16, 2005 ?ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY Mickie and family, I find it so hard to express my feelings at this time especially in the midst of the ghostly assemblage of the all the America heroes in these hallowed grounds now watching us . I am proud that Mickie , his beloved wife of 46 years, would grant me the honor to give her husband?s eulogy. My mission is to briefly recall and honor a new American soldier being committed with full military honors to this national monument. Our lifelong friend and my roommate for 4 years at West Point and best man at my wedding --Colonel J. Barrie Williams United States Army. I wish ?J. B? had helped me write down some of these thoughts since he was the humorist, the inspirational writer, the one with the gift of articulation and profound sense of history . I am not eloquent of words, and find it difficult to fully express the true feelings and summarize his distinguished career as a soldier and as a father, made especially more challenging in the few minutes allotted me. But in the words of many of the soldiers laid here ?I will try Sir?. Besides being a loving husband, father and Grandfather, J. Barrie was a patriot, an officer and a gentleman --- a really, really nice guy. Upon graduationg with the class of 1958 his distinguished military career kicked off as gung ho infantry platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division (as his Company mates also in the 82nd Jim Davis, J.D. George and myself will recall). His career ended after 25 and a butt years in retirement as a highly decorated and respected Colonel in Military Intelligence ? one of the first movers and shakers in that then infant Branch of service. His humor, his love of the parachute Infantry, his ability to make lasting friends, his caring for his soldiers, and love of his family was his hallmark. Barrie lived by the code of West Point --- Duty, Honor Country. That rallying point gave J. Barrie courage, faith and hope. In a speech at West Point just before his death MacArthur talked about the American Soldier, and I paraphrase to fit this occasion ?Barrie needs no eulogy from me or any other man. His courage under fire and patience under adversity cannot be amply put into words, I do not know the dignity of his birth , but I do know the glory of his death. Always to him the code of Duty - Honor - Country, was always his blood and sweat and tears, as he sought the way and the light and the truth.? Barrie was especially fond of telling stories to JD and me of General Thomas Stonewall Jackson, another West Pointer of arguable fame depending on which side of the Mason Dixon Line you hailed. There is no doubt in my mind that if Barrie were writing this eulogy he would have wanted me to commemorate his passing to the Long Grey Line with the words Stonewall Jackson uttered after being mortally wounded, ?Let us go over the river and rest under the shade of the trees?. So with that we bid fond adieu to our dear classmate, company mate, fellow soldier, husband, father and grandfather --- our friend Colonel J. Barrie Williams. Now that his work is done, his course on earth has run, now we can say --- WELL DONE -- be thou at peace.

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