Cleveland Barber and his baby sister, Pat (Barber) Lezon. 

 By Scott Wheeler

            When my family and members of the Elks Lodge in Derby began working on the Gold Star event planned for Saturday, May 23 at the Elks on the Derby Road, little did I know what an emotional impact it would have on us. I can’t fathom the pain that Gold Star families must feel. However, in saying that, I’m amazed about the lack of bitterness in any of the families that I have spoken too. For that matter, most are simply inspirational.

I recently received a letter from Newport resident, Pat Lezon. Along with the letter were mementos of her now deceased brother – Newport native, Cleveland Barber.  The following is a portion of a letter that Mr. Barber wrote while he was fighting his way through the jungle covered islands of the Pacific. The letter is dated October 23, 1944?

Well sis when you get this letter the beginning of the end for Japan will be under way. I’m talking about the Philippines. Don’t worry as I am not there yet. I’ll let you know if I get there. So as far as I am concerned right now we have a few scrapes here but they are about all cleaned up.

I get a lot of mail from Mom and Patricia. Little Pat writes to me nearly every day. She says she’s doing fine in her music lessons. She has the song “Johnny Doughboy” all learned. She says hopes I can come home soon. God bless her heart. I hope I get home soon.”

Mr. Barber did not return home to his family, including to his dear baby sister, Pat, who he wrote so lovingly about in his letter home. He was killed on the island of Sabu on May 1, 1945.

That baby sister is now a senior citizen. In the letter Pat wrote to me she told me about how much she adored and still misses her big brother, a man who was a hero like no other to her.  Sadly, she said following her brother’s death she was expected to move on with her life like he’d never existed. She has silently grieved his loss for more than 60 years.

The following is a portion of her letter:

“I was young and I didn’t know how to deal with this,” she wrote me. “I have kept this in the back of my mind all these years. He was home in Dec. 1942. I fell asleep on his lap. He was to leave on the midnight train. It was the last time I saw him.”

“This memorial service is like giving me closure after all of these years as I was never able to talk about it very much. Now I am happy to be bringing this all out in the open and to let people know my story. The Gold Star families cannot be forgotten and people need to tell their stories.”

Yes, in Pat’s words, the Gold Star families cannot be forgotten. And as we near Memorial Day we must remember all veterans.

 The following is a segment of an article that appears in the May 31, 1945 issue of the Newport Daily Express

Lieut. Cleveland Barber Killed on Cebu Island May 1

Left with Co. L – Saw Action in Many Parts of Pacific with 182^nd

            While attending the pre-Memorial day exercises at the South School, Newport, Tuesday evening, Mrs. Pearle Barber received a War Department telegram informing her that her son, Lt. Cleveland Barber, 24, had been killed in action on the island of Cebu in the Philippines, where he had been serving with the 182^nd Infantry anti-tank. The date of the casualty was given as May 1.

            Lt. Barber left Newport in March 1941 as a private with Co. L. of the Vermont National Guard. Completing training at Camp Blanding, Fla. And Camp Shelby, Miss., he was deemed officer caliber by the Army and sent to the officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Ga.

            Commissioned a second lieutenant in November, 1942, he went overseas in December 1942, arriving in New Caledonia in the Southwest Pacific January 9, 1943. He was in almost continuous service for the next 30 months on Guadalcanal, in the Fiji Islands, New Hebrides, Bougainville, and finally in the no-quarter struggle to evict the Japs from the Philippines.

            Wounded twice, he was the recipient of the Purple Heart, one Oak Leaf cluster, the Bronze Star medal and the Combat Infantryman badge, and several months ago was advanced to the rating of first lieutenant.

            His last letter home, dated April 9, Lt. Barber wrote: “I guess you thought I was never going to write again. Well, Mom, I have been on the go every minute of the day lately. We have been working hard and the fighting has been tough and bitter. You may have heard about our division over the radio. We finally made the big time headlines. I am well though, Mom, I went to the hospital for five days a week or so ago. It was due to battle fatigue. I had a good rest and now I’m O.K.”

            “They really take good care of us over here.   The doctors and nurses are doing a wonderful job. Please don’t worry too much because I’ll be careful and try to come home as soon as possible.”

            Looking forward hopefully and longingly to coming home, Lt. Barber was thrifty and sent home every dollar he could, for , he pointed out in his last letter: “It seems every cent I earn I want to send home so you can take good care of it and put it to good use. It hurts me to see guys spend their money foolishly. They are going to need it after this all over.”

            “I hope you and Pat are well and comfortable. Sure wish I could be home with you, even if it was only a short time. It’s so long since I left home. There are better days ahead. We have to have courage and faith, you know”