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<em>Samuel Llewellyn Barbour</em>, in retrospect, was definitely of the type from which heroes develop. Not that we who were associated with him so closely took time to analyze the characteristics that form the hero’s pattern, but our remembrance of a man, forthright, selfless, physically and mentally brave, leads us to accept with pride but with no surprise the account of Llew’s efforts to sustain his country.</p>
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His cadet days none too serious, his commissioned service followed suit, for he worked hard and he played hard, but making friends remained his hobby. The Air Forces denied him his first love and thereby lost one who would have proved to be a great combat leader. His second choice, the Field Artillery, adopted him, and gained a dauntless warrior whose vigor and courage led him through exploits equaled by few.</p>
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The details of Lou Barbour’s war service make superfluous, insofar as the appreciation of his unusual qualities as man and soldier are concerned, the recapitulation of events of preceding years of his life. It is sufficient to say that he was born in Plainfield, N.J.; that as a cadet he was known for quick human understanding, easy-going friendliness, and good nature: and that his commissioned service prior to his Philippine tour was apparently normal; that is, comparatively uneventful.</p>
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Upon arriving in the Philippines Lieutenant Barbour was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg, and assigned to Battery “A” 23rd Field Artillery (Philippine Scouts). He served as executive officer of that battery.</p>
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He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in October 1940.</p>
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In February 1941 the Philippine Scout Artillery units were expanded, and three more batteries were added to the 23rd. Lieutenant Barbour was given command of Battery “B”. This battery was armed with 2.94 inch mountain pack guns and furnished trucks for transportation. Lieutenant Barbour developed a method of loading these guns in the vehicles and worked out equipment requirements that were accepted and used by all porte artillery units in the islands. Also during this period, in addition to his organizational and command duties, he gave 2.94 inch pack gun instruction in the officer’s school.</p>
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In October, 1941 Lieutenant Barbour was promoted to Captain. During this time plans were again under way to reorganize the artillery and he would have become executive officer of the Battalion 86th Field Artillery (Philippine Scouts); however, due to the outbreak of hostilities on 8 December 1941, this reorganization never took place.</p>
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Upon the attack on the Philippines by the Japanese on 8 December 1941 Captain Barbour’s battery was ordered into the field. During most of the month of December his battery was in a position of readiness; however, in the first week in January the 23rd became engaged in action in Liack Junction. His battery, with the rest of the battalion, was destroyed by enemy aerial, artillery and infantry action. During this battle, in which all his guns and the majority of his vehicles were destroyed, he was hit in the leg by a shell fragment and severely wounded. While still under heavy enemy artillery and infantry fire Captain Barbour, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, drove a command car over open terrain picking up wounded men and taking them to cover. For this example of heroism he was decorated with the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.</p>
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After the fall of the Liack Junction position Captain Barbour was moved to a field hospital for treatment, and after being discharged he was assigned to the staff of the 2nd Battalion 24th Field Artillery (Philippine Scouts). He served with this unit until the middle of March when he volunteered to make a reconnaissance behind the Japanese lines to attempt to establish contact with the guerrilla bands in the Zambales Mountains. With a small picked party he made his way up the West coast of the Bataan peninsula, around and through the Japanese lines, and safely worked his way approximately 150 kilometers North to Mount Pinatuba. At this point he successfully contacted the guerrillas. In the meantime the Filipino-American forces on Bataan had surrendered. During the last two weeks of April he left Mount Pinatuba in an attempt to reach Corregidor. By traveling at night he was again able to work his way through the Japanese lines to the Northwest shore of Manila Bay, where he obtained a native canoe and crossed to Corregidor. Captain Barbour, on his return trip to Corregidor, was the first American officer to witness the Bataan Death March and report it to American military authorities. Upon his arrival at Corregidor he was promoted to Major and recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross.</p>
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After the surrender of Corregidor Major Barbour was moved first to Manila and later to the Philippine Military Prison Camp Number 1 near the city of Cabanatuan in Central Luzon. Upon arriving at this camp the first of June 1942 he was given command of a company of American prisoners. He remained in command of his company until January 1943, when all companies were taken over by company grade officers. Major Barbour then volunteered to work on the utility detail and was responsible for the upkeep and repair of the majority of the buildings in the camp. He also was instrumental in designing and constructing sanitary facilities.</p>
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On 12 October 1944 Major Barbour was transferred to Manila, where he remained until 13 December 1944. On that date he boarded a Japanese prison ship for Japan. This ship was bombed and sunk on 15 December 1944, and although again severely wounded, Major Barbour was able to get off and get to shore. He was placed on a second ship, which was bombed, but he escaped uninjured. He arrived in Moji, Japan, after having been transferred to a third ship, on 31 January 1945. He was immediately sent to Fukuoka Prison Camp Number 3.</p>
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Compared to the other men in his group, his health was good, although his firm, massive six-foot frame had shrunk to half its normal weight. In early February he developed a severe case of beri-beri and pneumonia, and was admitted to the prison hospital. The American medical officers did everything they could to aid him, but due to lack of medicine and proper hospital facilities he died 13 February 1945. An American Army Chaplain was permitted to hold funeral services for him and his body was then cremated by the Japanese.</p>
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Throughout the entire period Major Barbour was in prison camp he always took it upon himself to help someone lees fortunate than he. While his underground connections in the Philippines were not of the best, he did manage to get some money and supplies smuggled in to him. These amounts were hardly sufficient to take care of himself, nevertheless he was always assisting other officers and enlisted men by unselfishly sharing his food, medicine and money. During the trip from the Philippines to Japan, when the prisoners were given four spoonfuls of water each day, Major Barbour voluntarily shared his water with others. He took it upon himself to see that a man who was wounded and too weak to take care of himself, received what little medical aid was available. Under the trying conditions of this trip, although he was wounded, sick, and weighed only 95 pounds (his normal weight was 200), Major Barbour at no time failed to go out of his way to help his fellow prisoner.</p>
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Those who knew and served under him will always remember him as a kind friend and a courageous officer.</p>
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