Harold Anthony Barton

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose Andres "Andy" Chacon on August 23, 2004:

Harold Anthony Barton Born June 3, 1926 - Died December 2, 1967 Harold Anthony "Hal" Barton was born in Montreal, Canada on 3 June 1926 but was appointed to West Point from the 3rd Congressional District of Massachusetts. His West Point classmates recall: "Even on the coldest days, one could always rely on Hal to quip in his best Bostonian accent, 'It's really not so cold. They're probably swimming in Montreal.' He manifested this same warmth in his friendliness and sincerity. His Canadian inheritance made him a great lover of ice skating and good, rough hockey games. In his free and easy manner he endured the tempests of the Academic Department with much success." During his cadet days Hal was with the Ski Club all four years; the French Club yearling, cow, and first class years; the Skeet Club yearling and cow years and was a Cadet Sergeant his first class year. Upon graduation Hal went in the Artillery and after completing the Basic Artillery Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma reported to the 71st Anti Aircraft Battalion where he served from 1951 to 1952. His next assignment was to the 24th Anti Aircraft Battalion in Korea in 1952. In 1964 Hal attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and on completion was assigned to Headquarters, Europe where he served from 1964 to 1967. Hal returned to stateside in 1967 and was assigned to the 30th Artillery. He died while in service on 2 December 1967 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Mrs. Harold A. Barton (Louise) makes her home in Lawton, Oklahoma. The Artilleryman's Creed is a click away at Artilleryman's Creed ufa

admin