Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Harold Douglas Barker Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Cold War
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Cavalier (APA 37); USS Sarda (SS 488); USS Sea Robin (SS 407); USS Entemedor (SS 340); Submarine Squadron 2
- Location of Service: Long Beach and Monterey, California; Washington, DC; Groton, Connecticut; Naples, Italy; Norfolk, Virginia; Dunoon, Scotland
- Highest Rank: Commander
The son of an Army officer, Commander Douglas Barker chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a military career, but he opted to spend it at sea rather than on land. After attending the Naval Academy at Annapolis, he decided to apply for submarine school, and eventually earned his “dolphins” (the submariner’s equivalent of a pilot’s wings). In his oral history, he recounts his day-to-day life aboard a missile submarine during the Cold War: “You’re standing your watches, you’re doing your job, and you’re always wondering if there is somebody out there, following you.”
Harold Douglas Barker Collection
Interview / Recording
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PlayWanting a military career; approaching Senator for endorsement; told he could be third alternate to West Point or principal to Naval Academy; choosing the Navy. 00:02:33.0 - 00:03:53.0
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PlayRigors of first year at Annapolis. 00:04:47.0 - 00:06:24.0
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PlayBest and worst parts of being in the Navy. 00:16:42.0 - 00:17:10.0
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PlayEmotions during first submersion on a submarine. 00:25:43.0 - 00:26:21.0
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PlayMemories of the Cuban Missile Crisis; many volunteers for submarine service. 00:32:04.0 - 00:32:23.0
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PlayTransfer to Naples, Italy; controlling missile submarines operating in the Mediterranean. 00:35:15.0 - 00:36:41.0
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PlayLimited communication between submarine and outside world. 00:39:36.0 - 00:45:33.0
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PlayIncident in which there was a fire in the submarine while cooking a turkey dinner for Christmas. 00:47:44.0 - 00:51:09.0
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PlayQualities of submarines, what sets them apart from other sailors. 01:13:59.0 - 01:15:06.0
Transcript:
XML
About this Item
Title
- Harold Douglas Barker Collection
Names
- Douglas County Libraries Archives and Local History
- Barker, Harold Douglas
- Gray, Annette
- Belt, Barbara
State of Birth
- ND
Home State
- CO
Headings
- - Barker, Harold Douglas
- - Cold War -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
Cold War
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Cavalier (APA 37); USS Sarda (SS 488); USS Sea Robin (SS 407); USS Entemedor (SS 340); Submarine Squadron 2
- Location of Service: Long Beach and Monterey, California; Washington, DC; Groton, Connecticut; Naples, Italy; Norfolk, Virginia; Dunoon, Scotland
- Highest Rank: Commander
- Dates of Service: 1953-1980
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 5/18/1979)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 4/3/2003)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 4/3/2003)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 04/03/2003)
- Photograph: Digital print [7 items] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/56329
Cite as
- Harold Douglas Barker Collection (AFC/2001/001/56329), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Dunoon, Scotland
- Groton, Connecticut
- Long Beach and Monterey, California
- Naples, Italy
- Norfolk, Virginia
- Washington, DC
Service Unit
- Submarine Squadron 2
- USS Cavalier (Apa 37)
- USS Entemedor (Ss 340)
- USS Sarda (Ss 488)
- USS Sea Robin (Ss 407)