Bio, Barbay, Lawrence

RIP 01/26/2010 Name: Lawrence Barbay Rank/Branch: O3/US Air Force Unit: 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Takhli AB TH Date of Birth: 17 October 34 Home City of Record: Baton Rouge LA Date of Loss: 20 July 1966 Country of Loss: North Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 215058N 1051657E (WK292160) Status (in 1973): Released POW Category: Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: EB66C

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 May 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK. REMARKS: 730304 RELSD BY DRV SYNOPSIS: The Douglas EB66C Skywarrior was outfitted as an electronic warfare aircraft which carried roughly 5 tons of electronic gear in addition to its flight crew of three and technical personnel. The EB66C featured a pressurized capsule installed in the bomb bay, that accommodated four technicians whose responsibility was to operate electronic reconnaissance gear. On July 20, 1966, an EB66C was dispatched from the 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Takhli Airbase in Thailand on an electronic countermeasure mission over North Vietnam. The crew and technicians that day included Capt. Lawrence Barbay, Capt. Glendon W. Perkins, Capt. Norman A. McDaniel, Capt. William H. Means Jr., 1Lt. Edward L. Hubbard, and 1Lt. Craig R. Nobert. Nobert served as the electronics warfare officer on the flight. The flight was normal to the target area near Tuyen Quang, Quang Bac Thai Province, North Vietnam. At this point, the aircraft was orbited east/west. During this maneuver, the aircraft was hit by hostile fire. Two parachutes were seen to eject the aircraft, after which the aircraft descended and disintegrated. In the spring of 1973, 591 Americans were released from prison camps in Vietnam, including most of the crew of the Skywarrior lost on July 20, 1966. They had been held in various POW camps in and around Hanoi for nearly seven years. Only Nobert remained Missing in Action. For 24 years, the Vietnamese have denied knowledge of the fate of Craig R. Nobert, even though the U.S. believes there is a good possibility he was captured and died in captivity. On January 18, 1978, the Department of the Air Force declared Craig Nobert dead, based on no specific information he was still alive. Disturbing testimony was given to Congress in 1980 that the Vietnamese "stockpiled" the remains of Americans to return at politically advantageous times. Could Nobert be waiting, in a casket, for just such a moment? Even more disturbing are the nearly 10,000 reports received by the U.S. relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia. Many authorities who have examined this information (largely classified), have reluctantly come to the conclusion that many Americans are still alive in Southeast Asia. Could Nobert be among these? Perhaps the most compelling questions when remains are returned are, "Is it really who they say it is?", and "How -- and when -- did he die?" As long as reports continue to be received which indicate Americans are still alive in Indochina, we can only regard the return of remains as a politically expedient way to show "progress" on accounting for American POW/MIAs. As long as reports continue to be received, we must wonder how many are alive. As long as even one American remains alive, held against his will, we must do everything possible to bring him home -- alive. During their captivity, Perkins, Barbay and McDaniel were promoted to the rank of Major. Hubbard was promoted to the rank of Captain. Means was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Craig R. Nobert was promoted to the rank of Major during the period he was maintained missing. Norman A. McDaniel resided in Camp Springs, Maryland in early 1990. William H. Means, Jr. died in 1986 as a result of illness stemming from his incarceraton in Vietnam. SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977 Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and spelling errors). UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO LAWRENCE BARBAY Major - United States Air Force Shot Down: July 20, 1966 Released: March 4, 1973 I am Major Lawrence "Larry" Barbay hailing from Baton Rouge Louisiana where I was born and raised. Upon graduation from high school I was fortunate enough to receive an athletic scholarship to Louisiana Tech University for football graduating in May 1956. I entered the Air Force via ROTC and received my wings from Navigator Training at Ellington Field Houston Texas in March 1958. From there I completed Electronic Warfare School at Keesler AFB Mississippi and have had operational assignments in Japan (Yokota 1958-62); Strategic Air Command at Biggs AFB in El Paso (1962-65); and then to SEA (Southeast Asia) in February 1966. I am married to a lovely lady, Agatha who is the mother of our four children who are David 13; Catherine 11; Dina 9 and Lauren 6. Lauren was born on July 30, 1966 ten days after I was shot down. I was downed on 20 July 1966 while flying in a EB-66C on a large strike support mission about 40 miles north of Hanoi. Upon ejection I was captured and became a POW. I was released on March 4, 1973. My ordeal in North Vietnam was a long one and if there is a message that I would like to impart to my fellow Americans as to how I survived it would be this one. Early in my marriage, Agatha once told me that "Faith can move mountains." I have found that it can do more. My faith in God, my country and its people and my wife and family has in my mind brought me to life and freedom once again. --------------------------------- Lawrence Barbay retired from the United States Air Force as a Lt. Col. He and Agatha reside in Texas. ---------------------------------

Lawrence Barbay, Vietnam POW, BR native, 75, dies

By KIMBERLY VETTER
Advocate staff writer
Published: Feb 3, 2010 - Page: 12A

Baton Rouge lost a decorated war hero with the death Thursday of Lt. Col. Lawrence “Larry” Barbay, who was captured during the Vietnam War and held as a prisoner for nearly seven years.

He was 75.

“Larry was a fantastic person,” said Barbay’s close friend, James de Cordova of Jennings. “We need more people in this country to be like him.”

Barbay was one of six men aboard a U.S. aircraft shot down in 1966.

The Baton Rouge native spent some time in Hoa Lo Prison, the infamous “Hanoi Hilton,” where many prisoners of war endured torture, his family said in his obituary.

In a November 2003 interview with The Advocate, Barbay gave the following account of his time as a prisoner of war:

He had no memory of the first seven days of his seven-year ordeal, having suffered burns and a head injury when he was shot down.

He spent several years in isolation at the prison, and later was confined in a crowded cell with perhaps 45 to 50 other men. He once was chained in a stooped-over position for seven days and seven nights and forbidden to sleep.

In 1973, Barbay was released and came home to Baton Rouge, where he met the daughter born 10 days after his plane was downed. He also mourned his father, who died while he was still in a prison camp.

Barbay received a hearty homecoming. At the city limits, a police escort met his car and led him to a downtown courtroom, where the mayor and 400 people were waiting to welcome him home.

“Without the grace of God, I wouldn’t be here,” Barbay said in 2003 when he was inducted into the Louisiana Veterans Hall of Honor.

Barbay remained in the Air Force until his retirement in 1979. He was the recipient of many military honors, including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and POW Medal.

Barbay was born in Baton Rouge on Oct. 17, 1934. He graduated from Baton Rouge High School and Louisiana Tech University, where he received a scholarship to play football.

Barbay later earned a graduate degree from Southwest Texas State University and taught on the college level.

A funeral Mass for Barbay was held Tuesday morning in Austin.

Graveside services were held Tuesday afternoon at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.