Children
Living Daughter
2nd Unknown
Living Son
Sibling(s):
Leila
Stocker Barr
Leslie Cortland Barr
Rollo Edsall Barr
Elvin Leon Barr
Marion Ethel Barr
Infant Barr |
Notes:
Easton Express, Saturday, Jan 19, 1946, Page 1
Eastonian, Army Officer, Died on Jap Prison Ship
Lt. Col Elvin L. Barr Was On Boat Bombed By American Air Force
While On Way to Japanese Mainland
Lieut. Col. Elvin L. Barr, a native of Easton and hero of Corregidor,
who was a prisoner of war of the Japanese since early in 1942,
had been declared dead by the War Department, according to
word received by Mrs. Charles Kern, of Morris Street, Phillipsburg,
his cousin, from Lieut. Col, Barr's sister, Mrs. R.W. Livingstone
of Waynesville. N.C.
Lieut. Col Barr died on Jan 30, 1945, while being transported
from a prisoner of war camp in Manila to Moji, Japan. Mrs.
Livingstone was informed by Col William C. Braly, of Lafayette,
Cal., a close friend of Barr for many years, who was his fellow
prisoner.
In a letter to Mrs. Livingston, Co. Braly wrote:
"Elvin and I were close friends for many years and it
is with the deepest regret that I tell you of his death last
Jan. 30 on a Japanese transport en route to Moji, Japan,. He
had left Manila on Dec. 13, on the Oryoki Maru as one of the
1631 prisoners of war, mostly officers who had been at the
camp at Cabanatuan on Luson. That ship was bombed and sunk
by our own air force and about 350 were killed. The survivors
swam ashore at Olomgaop, were taken by train to San Fernando,
LaUnion, where the day after Christmas, I think it was, they
were loaded on another vessel.
"After much delay they finally reached Takau on the Easter
coast of Formosa or Taiwan, as the Japs call it. Lying in the
harbor there several days, our air force came over again and
bombed our ship, killing several hundred. The survivors were
transshipped again and finally started north toward Japan.
It was very cold and none had and clothing but their underwear.
Many died everyday from exposure, exhaustion and dysentery.
Elvin was among those who never reached Japan. Four hundred
and ninety-five go off ship about Feb 1 at Moji, on the island
of Kyushu. Of that number, only about 225 remain alive now.
"A Navy enlisted man, Chief Water Tender Lesnick, USN,
whose home was in Manila before the war, was with Elvin when
he died. This man and I were in prison camp together at Mukden,
Machuria, from May 21 until our departure, Sept 10, and I heard
his story."
Col. Braly wrote Mrs. Livingston that on his way back to the
United States, he stopped at Manila where he visited Lieut.
Col. Barr's wife, who he had married in 1939, and four-year-old
son.
"On New Years, when the Japanese were almost entering
Manila, Elvin took his wife and baby to Manila to her parents
and that was the last time he saw them," He wrote. "Mrs.
Barr's father was a German citizen, so they were unmolested
during the war, but had a terrifying experience most of the
time.”
While in Manila I saw Mrs. Barr and Elvin Jr., several times.
She had learned of Elvin's Death a few days before I reached
Manila. The boy is a beautiful child and looks like his father.
I believe she plans to bring the boy and come to the States
as soon as conditions settle down. She was very brave and courageous
about the matter.
Co. Barr was born in Easton on Nov 9, 1895, a son of the late
Mr. and Mrs. John S. Barr, who at one time resided at 1032
Berwick street, South Side, Easton. He was graduated from Easton
High School in 1914 and attended Lafayette College until he
entered the service in May 1917. He trained for Fort Niagara,
N.Y. before going overseas in World War II. After his tour
of duty in France he returned to the States for the duty with
the Coast Artillery at Pine Camp. N.Y. and remained in the
Army. He served several tours of duty in the Philippines and
was at one time in command of a CCC camp in California.
Col Barr was twice married. His first wife was the late Margaret
Magee, of Easton. A daughter, ****, of Enid Okla.,
survives from that marriage. During one of his assignments
to the Philippines he married, in 1939, the present Mrs. Barr
who also survived him with a son, *****. |
