MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD
Media Release
HQ-MND Baghdad
Camp Liberty
Baghdad, Iraq
APO AE 09344
Commercial: (703) 621-0781
IRAQNA: 011-964-770-252-3225
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2009
Memorial Ceremony in Baghdad allows friends, comrades to say goodbye
By 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th ENG BDE, MND-B
BAGHDAD – ‘Modest, innocent, humble, cheerful, generous, respectful, and
selfless’ were the words repeated over and over by those who spoke of 20 year-old
Army Reserve Specialist Jacob Barton, during his Memorial Service held in the
packed, standing room only chapel on Camp Liberty, May 14. As the kind words
poured forth from those Barton touched, you could hear the grief and sadness felt
for the young man whose life ended so abruptly earlier this week in a tragic
shooting incident.
“Barton was very innocent. He was just a boy - still a kid. We finally got him to
start standing up for himself and he was really starting to develop,” stated Sgt.
Alexis Hernandez, Spc. Barton’s squad leader, 277th Engineer Company, a native of
San Antonio. “Wish he could’ve experienced so much more in life.”
Spc. Barton was raised in Lenox, Mo., a town with a population of only three
families. His friends say that small-town upbringing, coupled with his kind heart
made him seem a bit naïve, sheltered, and quite innocent.
“[Barton] often found himself being tricked by his peers because of his trusting
nature and very limited exposure to the corruption of the outside world,” stated
Capt. Gordon Robbins, commander, 277th Eng. Co., a native of Junction, Texas,
during the eulogy. “It was his purity and trusting nature that allowed him to take the
pranks without ever holding a grudge against his buddies.”
Barton was stationed with the 955th Eng. Co., based in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., but
was cross-leveled to the 277th and deployed with them. Members of his platoon
say when Spc. Barton first arrived from Missouri to San Antonio, he was eager to
learn as much as he could about the maintenance field and explore the city around
him.
“He came to this unit as green as a blade of grass,” stated Spc. Jason Mata, close
friend, and fellow mechanic, 277th Eng. Co. “It was his first time since basic training
that he had been away from Missouri. [Barton] didn’t know what the feel of a big city
was like.”
“I was determined to change that,” Mata continued. “We were granted an overnight
pass, and I was going to make sure he saw the bright lights of San Antonio. He had
the time of his life that night and thanked me tremendously for taking him out with
the other Soldiers.”
Spc. Barton also had a strong sense of duty. He worried frequently about taking
care of his family back home and was constantly chatting online with his sister.
“The reason Spc. Barton served his country and volunteered for this deployment
was to provide financial benefits for his family back home in Missouri,” stated
Robbins during the eulogy. “While most Soldiers dream of using their pay for things
which directly benefit only them…Spc. Barton only wanted to provide for his family.”
Trying to juggle a new career, his first deployment, and the death of his mother
prompted him to seek help from professionals at the Combat Stress Center on
Camp Liberty.
“[Spc. Barton] was at the Combat Stress Clinic voluntarily, because he had the
personal courage to recognize Mother’s Day had brought forth strong emotions of
the recent loss of his mother,” stated Lt. Col. Matthew Zajac, commander, 46th
Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), a native of Schaumburg, Ill. “He simply desired
to talk with someone trained to listen.”
Barton died from a gunshot wound inflicted by another Service Member at the
medical facility. The shooting suspect was taken into military custody and the
incident is under investigation by the U.S. Army.
“Barton was very generous and never thought of the cost to himself,” stated Spc.
Daniel Castillo, 277th Eng. Co., close friend to Spc. Barton, and a native of San
Antonio. “He was just a simple guy, didn’t complain about this or that, and always
tried his best. It’s just as simple as that.”
As the Soldiers said goodbye to a friend and comrade they knew only briefly - but
had impacted their lives so strongly, they tried to make sense of such a senseless
tragedy.
“Through his eyes life was pure and innocent, but the good Lord saw cruelty and
deception in his path and decided to send the angels for him,” stated Hernandez.
“The Lord made a decision to keep him pure and innocent in heaven forever. Our
Maker has bigger plans for a person with a heart as pure as
Spc. Barton’s.”
CAMP LIBERTY – Spc. Daniel Castillo (with head bowed), a native of San Antonio, a
roommate and close friend to Spc. Jacob Barton, sits with other members of the
277th Engineer Company, 46th Eng. Battalion, 225th Eng. Brigade, during Barton’s
Memorial ceremony, May 14.
(U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber,
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th Eng. Bde., MND-B)
CAMP LIBERTY – Spc. Jacob Barton’s “stairway to heaven” display is in the
foreground as Spc. Jason Mata (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Vargas (right), both
with the 277th Engineer Company based in San Antonio, TX, silently prepare to give
their eulogies, May 14.
(U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber,
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th Eng. Bde., MND-B)
CAMP LIBERTY – Sgt. Alexis Hernandez, squad leader, 277th Engineer Company, a
native of San Antonio, Texas, gives his Eulogy for Spc. Jacob Barton during the
Memorial Ceremony held here, May 14. Hernandez stated, “I was very proud of my
Soldier. I’m going to miss you, buddy. I will always be here for you, as an NCO,
your squad leader, and mostly as your friend.”
(U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber,
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th Eng. Bde., MND-B)
CAMP LIBERTY – Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, commander, Multi-National Division -
Baghdad, places a 1st Cavalry Division coin on Spc. Jacob Barton’s memorial
display, after rendering honors, May 14. Many other left tokens on the display which
will be sent to Barton’s family.
(U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber,
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th Eng. Bde., MND-B)
CAMP LIBERTY – Spc. Jason Mata, mechanic, 277th Engineer Company, a native of
San Antonio, Texas, gives his eulogy for Spc. Jacob Barton, May 14. Mata said of his
roommate and friend, “Spc. Barton was a unique and innocent person. He saw the
world and everybody in it with impartial eyes. He didn’t have any hatred towards
anybody and always gave everybody the benefit of the doubt.”
(U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber,
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th Eng. Bde., MND-B)
Media Release
HQ-MND Baghdad
Camp Liberty
Baghdad, Iraq
APO AE 09344
Commercial: (703) 621-0781
IRAQNA: 011-964-770-252-3225
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2009
Memorial Ceremony in Baghdad allows friends, comrades to say goodbye
By 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th ENG BDE, MND-B
BAGHDAD – ‘Modest, innocent, humble, cheerful, generous, respectful, and
selfless’ were the words repeated over and over by those who spoke of 20 year-old
Army Reserve Specialist Jacob Barton, during his Memorial Service held in the
packed, standing room only chapel on Camp Liberty, May 14. As the kind words
poured forth from those Barton touched, you could hear the grief and sadness felt
for the young man whose life ended so abruptly earlier this week in a tragic
shooting incident.
“Barton was very innocent. He was just a boy - still a kid. We finally got him to
start standing up for himself and he was really starting to develop,” stated Sgt.
Alexis Hernandez, Spc. Barton’s squad leader, 277th Engineer Company, a native of
San Antonio. “Wish he could’ve experienced so much more in life.”
Spc. Barton was raised in Lenox, Mo., a town with a population of only three
families. His friends say that small-town upbringing, coupled with his kind heart
made him seem a bit naïve, sheltered, and quite innocent.
“[Barton] often found himself being tricked by his peers because of his trusting
nature and very limited exposure to the corruption of the outside world,” stated
Capt. Gordon Robbins, commander, 277th Eng. Co., a native of Junction, Texas,
during the eulogy. “It was his purity and trusting nature that allowed him to take the
pranks without ever holding a grudge against his buddies.”
Barton was stationed with the 955th Eng. Co., based in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., but
was cross-leveled to the 277th and deployed with them. Members of his platoon
say when Spc. Barton first arrived from Missouri to San Antonio, he was eager to
learn as much as he could about the maintenance field and explore the city around
him.
“He came to this unit as green as a blade of grass,” stated Spc. Jason Mata, close
friend, and fellow mechanic, 277th Eng. Co. “It was his first time since basic training
that he had been away from Missouri. [Barton] didn’t know what the feel of a big city
was like.”
“I was determined to change that,” Mata continued. “We were granted an overnight
pass, and I was going to make sure he saw the bright lights of San Antonio. He had
the time of his life that night and thanked me tremendously for taking him out with
the other Soldiers.”
Spc. Barton also had a strong sense of duty. He worried frequently about taking
care of his family back home and was constantly chatting online with his sister.
“The reason Spc. Barton served his country and volunteered for this deployment
was to provide financial benefits for his family back home in Missouri,” stated
Robbins during the eulogy. “While most Soldiers dream of using their pay for things
which directly benefit only them…Spc. Barton only wanted to provide for his family.”
Trying to juggle a new career, his first deployment, and the death of his mother
prompted him to seek help from professionals at the Combat Stress Center on
Camp Liberty.
“[Spc. Barton] was at the Combat Stress Clinic voluntarily, because he had the
personal courage to recognize Mother’s Day had brought forth strong emotions of
the recent loss of his mother,” stated Lt. Col. Matthew Zajac, commander, 46th
Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), a native of Schaumburg, Ill. “He simply desired
to talk with someone trained to listen.”
Barton died from a gunshot wound inflicted by another Service Member at the
medical facility. The shooting suspect was taken into military custody and the
incident is under investigation by the U.S. Army.
“Barton was very generous and never thought of the cost to himself,” stated Spc.
Daniel Castillo, 277th Eng. Co., close friend to Spc. Barton, and a native of San
Antonio. “He was just a simple guy, didn’t complain about this or that, and always
tried his best. It’s just as simple as that.”
As the Soldiers said goodbye to a friend and comrade they knew only briefly - but
had impacted their lives so strongly, they tried to make sense of such a senseless
tragedy.
“Through his eyes life was pure and innocent, but the good Lord saw cruelty and
deception in his path and decided to send the angels for him,” stated Hernandez.
“The Lord made a decision to keep him pure and innocent in heaven forever. Our
Maker has bigger plans for a person with a heart as pure as
Spc. Barton’s.”
CAMP LIBERTY – Spc. Daniel Castillo (with head bowed), a native of San Antonio, a
roommate and close friend to Spc. Jacob Barton, sits with other members of the
277th Engineer Company, 46th Eng. Battalion, 225th Eng. Brigade, during Barton’s
Memorial ceremony, May 14.
(U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber,
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th Eng. Bde., MND-B)
CAMP LIBERTY – Spc. Jacob Barton’s “stairway to heaven” display is in the
foreground as Spc. Jason Mata (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Vargas (right), both
with the 277th Engineer Company based in San Antonio, TX, silently prepare to give
their eulogies, May 14.
(U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber,
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th Eng. Bde., MND-B)
CAMP LIBERTY – Sgt. Alexis Hernandez, squad leader, 277th Engineer Company, a
native of San Antonio, Texas, gives his Eulogy for Spc. Jacob Barton during the
Memorial Ceremony held here, May 14. Hernandez stated, “I was very proud of my
Soldier. I’m going to miss you, buddy. I will always be here for you, as an NCO,
your squad leader, and mostly as your friend.”
(U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber,
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th Eng. Bde., MND-B)
CAMP LIBERTY – Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, commander, Multi-National Division -
Baghdad, places a 1st Cavalry Division coin on Spc. Jacob Barton’s memorial
display, after rendering honors, May 14. Many other left tokens on the display which
will be sent to Barton’s family.
(U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber,
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th Eng. Bde., MND-B)
CAMP LIBERTY – Spc. Jason Mata, mechanic, 277th Engineer Company, a native of
San Antonio, Texas, gives his eulogy for Spc. Jacob Barton, May 14. Mata said of his
roommate and friend, “Spc. Barton was a unique and innocent person. He saw the
world and everybody in it with impartial eyes. He didn’t have any hatred towards
anybody and always gave everybody the benefit of the doubt.”
(U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber,
46th ECB (H) PAO, 225th Eng. Bde., MND-B)
