Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource John Wesley Barbee Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Service Unit/Ship: Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division; 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade; USS Wasp (CVS 18); USS Chilton (APA 38)
- Location of Service: Vietnam; Parris Island, South Carolina; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Mediterranean Sea; Okinawa, Japan
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/118385
A native of Tennessee, John Wesley Barbee joined the Marines to escape the wrath of local white supremacists angered by his civil rights activism. Stationed aboard the USS Wasp, the lead recovery ship for the Gemini moon landings, Barbee took part in multiple "splashdowns," helping to rescue astronauts from the ocean after they arrived back on Earth. After a stint aboard the USS Chilton, he departed for Vietnam, where he was killed in action in August 1968--a mere two years after marrying his wife, Patricia. In her oral history interview, Patricia Barbee discusses her husband's life and military career, their love story, and how she endured after his death.
Interview / Recording
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PlayMeeting her husband; the date of their marriage; his early days in the Marines. 00:01:08.0 - 00:03:35.0
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PlayCommunicating with her husband while he was aboard ship; racking up an expensive phone bill because he would call multiple times a day to say he loved her; his love of poetry and writing. 00:06:25.0 - 00:08:15.0
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PlayLearning the news of her husband's death; arrival of two Marines in uniform; being asked to surrender her military ID card because she was no longer a military spouse. 00:18:05.0 - 00:20:14.0
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PlayCoping with her husband's death; involvement with Gold Star Wives. 00:28:05.0 - 00:29:05.0
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PlayThoughts on the meaning of Memorial Day. 00:35:59.0 - 00:37:02.0
About this Item
Title
- John Wesley Barbee Collection
Names
- Greaves, Jason
- Barbee, John Wesley
- 50th Public Affairs Detachment
Home State
- Tennessee
Headings
- - Barbee, John Wesley
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Service Unit/Ship: Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division; 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade; USS Wasp (CVS 18); USS Chilton (APA 38)
- Location of Service: Vietnam; Parris Island, South Carolina; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Mediterranean Sea; Okinawa, Japan
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1964-1968
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: Flash Drive [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2019-09-18; 2019)
- Photograph: Photocopy of Photographic Print [6 items] -- Photographs (collected 1964-1984)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of photograph (collected 1964-1984; 2019)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/118385
Collection Notes
- Patricia Barbee was interviewed on behalf of the veteran.
Online Format
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Service Unit/Ship
- 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade
- Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division
- USS Chilton (Apa 38)
- USS WASP (Cvs 18)