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Not only the Class of 1912 but the thousands upon thousands of Tubby Barton’s special and loving friends will not want to look upon his departure for the far shore other than that he simply has once more changed occupations. As we know, Tubby never would and never did retire; he only stepped from one calling to another, always building superior performance upon a foundation of warm and cordial relations, which characteristics emanated brilliantly from his erudite and generous soul, as normally as the breath he inhaled and exhaled. We would much rather think of Tubby’s absence from us saddened buddies in the light that he is what always came naturally to him; in other words, that he is lending his magnificent self to his new surroundings. In any case we may all rest assured that we will have a dynamic and inspired representative in the High Heaven to plead for us since Tubby could no more forget one of his friends and pals than he could desert his beloved country.</div>
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As a cadet he won his A in football and became captain of the wrestling team. In such sports Tubby simply demolished his opponents and the saying about his prowess expressed the truly mystifying anomaly to this effect: “How can a man with such a veritably sweet disposition be so devastating? We hope he never gets really mad.” Tubby never did. He made wrestling at USMA, dear old Tom Jenkins’ activity, one of the major sports of the Academy. He very aptly demonstrated the truth of one of Tom's most quoted axioms —“There ain’t no holt that can’t be broke,” and so Tubby went through the world breaking “holts” which had floundered many another contestant in the game of life.</div>
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In World War II Tubby landed his rolling 4th Division as the first troops on Utah Beach on D Day. It took not only tactical ability and leadership to conquer this Nazi trap but something akin to the amalgamation of physical stamina, professional superiority, and spiritual faith to win. Even after the blood bath of securing the beach, the 4th was confronted with a Nazi diabolical artifice which would have shattered a less indomitable team of Herculeans. Behind the beach the Bosches had flooded the fields through which the Ivy Leaf had to fight—one road in and one road out. After the battle the utterly fantastic accomplishments of the 4th were poignantly visible. On each side of both roads were dead and drowned soldiers, tanks, trucks, artillery rifles, walkie-talkies, and all of the gear found in a modem army. It was impossible to figure out how victory was achieved—but it had been. Success had required something more than we are taught in the books and maneuver fields—it took a touch of magic. That is what Tubby possessed and imparted to his men. He did even more. He not only taught his fighters this touch of magic but inspired them to emulate not only his characteristics but even the aura of victory which surrounded him. Next the rolling 4th turned north—nothing the Germans could do stopped them from capturing our first enemy seaport—Cherbourg. Who will ever forget the dismal feeling of frustration which was stealing over us on account of the staunch unbreakable stand of the Germans at St. Lo.? Tubby’s outfit finally punched a hole in their defenses. Through it American troops of Patton’s Third Army poured and rolled up the Nazi Seventh Army at Falaise Gap. Another of Tubby's scintillating victories among other hosts of glorious accomplishments was breaking of the Siegfried Line, the first Allied organization to do so. As was fitting, Tubby was the first Allied officer to set foot on German soil. Later in the beautiful but deadly frozen snow white battlefield of the most ghastly of all War II campaigns—the Hurtgen Forest—I commanded the 8th Infantry Division. On my left was Tubby with his rolling 4th. Even under these dire circumstances, with such a teammate, I always felt certain of victory—and win we did although on many occasions we had to literally snatch victory out of the jaws of what seemed to be certain defeat.</div>
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After leaving the active list of the Army, Tubby became vice president of the Chamber of Commerce of Augusta, Ga., where he planned and handled industrialization projects for the city. He also participated in financial and real estate activities. In all he brought the same glowing success and human understanding as had been his wont in the Service. For his noble civic achievements the citizens of Augusta intend to erect a memorial to him. Maj. Gen. Eugene A. Salet, commander of Fort Gordon, dedicated a parade field in honor of Tubby. For this ceremony a tried and true old soldier of the Rolling 4th who had served with our hero during World War II flew all the way from Fort Lewis, Wash., the present station of the 4th, to pay tribute to his beloved former commander. The soldier is named Sgt. Sutton and he said it was hard to express all of the greatness of Gen. Barton but he summarized his attributes as exemplifying duty—honor—simplicity, which makes anyone great in the eyes of his fellowmen. Clare, Tubby’s wife, sweet, attractive and charming as ever, and visibly embodying the deep devotion she and her husband had always felt for each other and their friends, accepted the plaque from Gen. Salat dedicating the Parade Field, which instrument described her beloved husband as "Patriot—Soldier—Civic Leader. The two children of Tubby and Clare are exactly the wonderful people a person would expect of such magnificent parents. Raymond Jr., formerly of the Air Force, is now out of the Service and is eminent in his civil business, following in the footsteps of his illustrious father. Attractive young Clare is married to Mr. A. J. Redd, a successful businessman of San Angelo, Tex. Our love will always surround Clare and the children as it does Tubby.</div>
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Some well known and honored persons who knew our pal have only echoed our thoughts. The late Ernest Hemingway said this to our buddy—“You had one of the greatest divisions in American military history." Ernie Pyle expressing his measure of Tubby said, “a fatherly, kindly, thoughtful good soldier.’" Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., said—“Not only is he sound of military tactics but he is a real leader.” The inimitable and valorous Gen. George S. Patton said he "knew of no American Division in France which excelled the magnificent record of the 4th Infantry Division." He further said that in the dark days of December 1944, depleted and tired, the 4th Division halted a German thrust into American lines to save the city of Luxembourg.</div>
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Personally I tried my best to get into Tubby's division in order to serve with him. I was honored in that he worked just as hard to have me so assigned but other plans for the division had been made. Later in life he performed for me, not just a favor but a tremendous act of everlasting friendship to be enshrined in the hearts of me and my progeny eternally. The deed was one which could only have been expected of a deeply devoted blood brother.</div>
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Those of us, of the Class of 1912, who must still answer the final roll call, will look forward with assurance, knowing Tubby, on the far beach, will lend each of us his understanding devoted hand and guidance; without him there will always be a void for one we loved so dearly.</div>
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<em>—William C. Wearer ’12 Maj. Cen., USA (Ret)</em></div>
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