NEW LONDON (NBC26) — Some area veterans are celebrating the military's identification of three New London brothers who died at Pearl Harbor in 1941.
A news release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said the remains of Navy Fireman 1st Class Malcolm J. Barber, age 22, Navy Fireman 1st Class Leroy K. Barber, age 21, and Navy Fireman 2nd Class Randolph H. Barber, age 19, were accounted for on June 10, 2021.
“Well it’s been 80 years and it’s totally strange that they were finally able to do it," said James Jaeger, a veteran from Little Wolf. "I think that’s just absolutely great.”
Malcolm, Leroy and Randolph were assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was stationed at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits when attacked by a Japanese aircraft, which caused it to capsize. Nearly 430 crewmen died, including the Barber brothers.
The New London siblings are three of 337 sailors and marines now accounted for as part of the DPAA's USS Oklahoma Identification Project, which began in 2015.
“I think it’s just super advanced in technology that they’re able to do this," Jaeger said. "There are so many unknowns, and even unknowns buried in graves that they just haven’t had the time or funds to be able to get at all of that. But their plans are to do it.”
Jaeger served in the United States Army Reserve. He later served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1961. Jaeger is now a member of the New London American Legion and the chairman of the New London Veterans Memorial Foundation.
There are more than 1,000 names of those who've served the nation on the walls of the New London Area Veterans Memorial. Among those names is a dedication to the Barber brothers.
“It’s been a sorry thing for our community for a long time that it happened. That’s why their names are on the wall and we recognized the family for it," Jaeger said.
As another former veteran himself, Richard Dietz, New London, said he's happy to learn the Barber's story can now come to a peaceful end.
Dietz joined the Navy’s Construction Battalion, also known as "Seabees," in 1955. He served there until 1976, when he joined the United Sates Air Force until 1986.
Although originally from Appleton, Dietz said the story of the Barber brothers is well known to him.
“We knew about them for a long time and (were) hoping they could do something for them," Dietz said. “I like it when they identify them (so) that the families can have some closure, and hope that they can always get the bodies back and give them a proper burial with a family blessing.”
There is currently a stone marker in honor of the Barber brothers at the Most Precious Blood Cemetery in New London to ensure the heroes are never forgotten.
