Posted by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX on April 21, 2008:

Carey Bishop Barrineau NO. 16642 CLASS OF 1948 DIED DECEMKEH 17, 1949, AT ITAZIKE,ON KYUSHU, JAPAN AGED 22 YEARS LIEUTENANT CAREY BISHOP BARRINEU' was born in Andrews, South Carolina, January 2, 1927, the son of Herbert and Kate Bishop Barrineau. In 1937, at the age of ten years, Aiken, S. C, became his residence (where he made his home with his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Cary M. Bishop). Here he attended the public schools, and was graduated from Aiken High School in 1943. In the fall of 1943 he entered The Citadel, at Charleston, S. C. He left this institution in June 1944 to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he was graduated in the summer of 1948. Upon graduation Carey entered the Air Force, and was assigned to Randolph Field, Texas. In September 1949, he received his wings at Las Vegas A.F.B., Nevada, and a month later he sailed for Japan. He was stationed at Kyushu, Japan, when his death in a plane crash occurred on December 17, 1949. In the untimely passing of Carey Barrineau the Air Forces lost a most capable young officer; his family a very devoted son and grandson and nephew; and his many friends a comrade of endearing qualities — a comrade who will be long remembered for his ready smile and good humor, as well as his seriousness of purpose. As a boy, Carey's main interests were in travel and securing historical information, which undoubtedly had an influence on his desire to attend West Point. Lying on the living room floor he "traveled" over the United States on road maps, and went to sleep at night with the current World's Almanac by his bed. He kept his high school history teacher on the jump by asking her questions which he had read about on the night before. Also in his high school days, he and a friend took advantage of travel "by thumb" during their vacations; and, upon graduation from West Point, he spent the following summer in Europe. With a keen mind, and a good store of knowledge, his presence was an asset to any friendly group. There are many people who are willing to talk on many subjects. There are very few who really can, and do it well. Carey belonged in this select latter group. Once a subject had caught his interest (and his range of interests was wide) he would dig to the bottom of it. Thus he was well posted in a surprising diversity of fields. Having this type of mind, his delight in a friendly argument is readily understood. He loved to parry a question, and then drive home his point. But it was always done with an accompanying smile and in the best of spirit. It might be added that he seldom came out "second" in these friendly arguments. Carey's interest in people of all kinds developed in him a tolerance for their views and shortcomings, but he picked his associates because of their interest in worthwhile accomplishments. This led him to make friends not only in his own age group, but also among those much older in years. And one of the chief characteristics of his life was his devotion and loyalty to his friends, once a friendship had been solidly welded. He abided by Shakespeare's dictum: "Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel." His respect for his fellow man was repaid when a few weeks after his death the new theater at the air base in Japan at which he was stationed was named, "The Barrineau Theater" The men at the base submitted names for the theater and the name chosen had been submitted by a sergeant and a corporal. While his life was marked by devotion to his friends, it was in the circle of his own family that Carey's devotion was most manifest. An only child, his love and unfailing thoughtfulness toward his mother were rare in their quality. Her welfare and happiness were ever uppermost in his mind, and he looked upon her not only as a mother but also as "the best of pals" This spirit of family devotion extended to his grandparents and aunts and the others of his kindred. Carey carried in his heart a fond love for the sand and the pine and the traditions of his native South Carolina. On cold, grim days, when the winds were beating over the Palisades of the Hudson, he would be heard to remark, "Oh, this Yankee weather!" But if an outsider should have made a derogatory remark about even the weather at the Academy, he would have defended it to the last ditch! A member of the Aiken Presbyterian Church, he consistently attended the Sunday service in his church on those occasions when he came back to Aiken. It was in this church that the funeral service was held on January 16, 1950, with military rites at the grave side. His body now rests in Aiken's Bethany Cemetery, close to the spots that had become so dear to him in boyhood days. We are all grieved at Carey's going from us. But we find consolation in the thought that this one who so loved wholesome adventure has now entered upon the Greatest Adventure of all. —F. Gault Robertson.

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