Leland Barr and World War II

SMITH, Jacob > SMITH, William Custer > SMITH, Edwin > Smith, Vivan and Leland Barr

Leland Barr was the husband of my great aunt Vivian. I had warm feelings for her. She and Leland never had any kids, but Vivian was very fond of all of  us as well. He was born in 02 Nov 1906 in Shell Rock, Iowa. 

Vivian visit Leland before he left
for Europe

Uncle Leland was very quiet. Didn't see him smile a lot and can't recall anytime where he was laughing and joking, but he was a nice enough guy. He served in World War 2 and his service record isn't entirely clear, but this is from an earlier post:

Vivian met a young man from Shell Rock, Leland Barr, son of  William Barr and Marie Hufstader. In 1938, they married and she and Leland set up housekeeping in Plainfield. He made his living doing day labor. In April 1943, they moved to Waterloo where he had secured employment with Rath Packing Company, a major employer with good pay and benefits. Then, in August, Leland was drafted. He was and sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for basic and advanced training in October.

After a 10-day furlough, he was sent to England and spent the next two years attached to the 49th Combat Engineers serving in England, France, and Belgium. While overseas, he fell into a mine shaft and was seriously injured; his legs were never the same. After the war, he was discharged as a private in December, 1945, returning to Waterloo and started work at Hartman Locker. He was rehired by Rath in early 1947, and according to Evelyn’s daughter Cheryl, he had a job  operating the large swing doors in the plant which wouldn’t tax him too much due to his war injuries. He remained with Rath until retirement.

The other day, I spoke with my cousin Tony, who had found a box of Vivian's things that had been in the care of my Uncle Harold who recently passed away. Yesterday, I went through the box and found a minor treasure of things from Uncle Leland's service.

Good Conduct Medal, WWII

These are not all identified, but the one on the bar is the Victory Medal and the one on the right is a campaign medal (which I believe is not identical, but similar to the one on top with three clusters. The one on the bottom looks like the Bronze Star ribbon, but there is absolutely no indication Leland received such an award.

This photo includes his death certificate. He was hospitalized and died on one of my leaves and I attended his funeral in 1979. He is buried in Waterloo, Iowa. There is a certificate of service which he had framed, his death certificate, a letter from the War Department regarding his service, a copy of his basic training book from Ft Leonard Wood, MO (where I would attend basic training 35 years later), and finally, a Nazi Iron Cross - source unknown.

The Iron Cross was worn by Nazi soldiers during WWII
There is a swastika and "1939" raised on the cross.

I'm left with more questions. Why does he have a bronze star ribbon? How did he get the Iron Cross? What were his experiences in Europe? There is no one left to ask.

Zola Bebee, Grandma's Best Friend

ALEXANDER BARR > HENRY BARR > MARYETTE "MARY" BARR m Frank Jenks > ZOLA JENKS m John Beebe

Zola Jenks Beebe

One of the memories I have from childhood is my Grandmother Verlie's best friend, Zola Bebee. Zola was frequently found at her best friend's house as I was growing up. They remained friends throughout their lives. What I didn't know, is that Zola was also related to my Uncle Leland Barr, husband of my Great Aunt Viv, Verlie's youngest sister.

Alexander Barr and his wife Mary Soash, both hailed from Pennsylvania. Alexander was a cabinet maker and followed that trade when he moved to Wisconsin. He settled on the Whitewater River. Later, he moved down to Iowa and settled in Jackson County. Alexander died in 1862 and his wife soon after. Their son William was the father of Uncle Leland. Their son Henry had married Ella Louise Jones, born in Ohio in 19 Nov 1856. The couple had eight children including Maryette "Mary", who was born 18 Mar 1882.

Mary married Frank Jenks, son of James and Dora Jenks. Frank was born on a farm in Benton County on 29 Jun 1879. They were married 05 May 1900. Frank and Mary had four children, among them, Zola, born 02 Dec 1908. The couple lived in Mt Auburn before moving to La Porte City in about 1917. Frank operated a barbershop and billiard parlor on Main Street in La Porte City, Black Hawk County. One day, he had a heart attack in his shop while talking to customers and died. The town's businesses closed during the funeral hour in respect.

Zola and Verlie on the steps
of Verlie's rental home on Black Hawk St 1950s

John Franklin Bebee was born 26 Jul 1900 in Prairieburg, Linn County, Iowa. He married Myrtle Ethel Reece on 12 Jun 1926 in Waterloo. They had a daughter, Donna Mae Bebee in 1928. The couple divorced and John married Zola. They lived in Waterloo and later in Evansdale. John died in July 1964. In 1963, she became godmother to my sister at our baptism in Waterloo.

Zola used to drive a big blue car - I'd like to say it was about a 1964 Chevy, but I can't nail that down. Because Verlie didn't drive, you could see Zola driving them around in her car. Her carefully coiffed hair bobbing up and down barely above the steering wheel as they tooled down the road. They'd get out of the car, giant purses hooked over their wrists, talking and laughing, in conversations that often ran to, "Well, did you hear about Lula and her man?" They loved to get their hair done and loved to sit and gossip together.

The last time I saw Zola was when my grandma lived in her senior apartment in the late 1970s; I was in high school. She had driven over for a good gossip. Soon after, I left for service. Zola, who had suffered with diabetes for many years, eventually lost a leg to the disease and was no longer able to drive. She was eventually cared for in a nursing home until she died in October 1985 in Waterloo.

Edwin Smith Family: Vivian Katherine Smith

WILLIAM CUSTER SMITH > EDWIN SMITH M KATE SMULL > VIVIAN KATHERINE SMITH m Leland Barr

VIVIAN BORN: 07 Jul 1912, Plainfield, Bremer, Iowa  | DIED: 07 Dec 1986, Waverly, Bremer,Iowa
MARRIED:  03 Jul 1938, Plainfield, Bremer, Iowa
LELAND BORN: 02 Nov 1906, Shell Rock, Butler, Iowa | DIED:  13 Mar 1979, Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa

Vivian and Leland

When Vivian and Evelyn, her youngest sister, were young, you’d be hard pressed to find one without the other. They were found traveling here and there together, visiting various friends and relatives, attending school events, or shopping in Waverly. Vivian graduated from Plainfield High School in 1929.

Vivian met a young man from Shell Rock, Leland Barr, son of  William Barr and Marie Hufstader. In 1938, they married and she and Leland set up housekeeping in Plainfield. He made his living doing day labor. In April 1943, they moved to Waterloo where he had secured employment with Rath Packing Company, a major employer with good pay and benefits. Then, in August, Leland was drafted. He was and sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for basic and advanced training in October.

After a 10-day furlough, he was sent to England and spent the next two years attached to the 49th

Vivian visit Leland before he left
for Europe

Combat Engineers serving in England, France, and Belgium. While overseas, he fell into a mine shaft and was seriously injured; his legs were never the same. After the war, he was discharged as a private in December, 1945, returning to Waterloo and started work at Hartman Locker. He was rehired by Rath in early 1947, and according to Evelyn’s daughter Cheryl, he had a job  operating the large swing doors in the plant which wouldn’t tax him too much due to his war injuries. He remained with Rath until retirement.

Over the next few years, Leland spent several stints in the hospital for various medical issues including a ruptured appendix. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in 1963 with an open house at their home in Waterloo at 217 Mobile St, across the street from the Linden Methodist Church, where they attended.

Leland got cancer and died in Iowa City Hospital in 1979. Vivian remained in her home briefly, but then moved to a nursing home in Waverly until she died. Though the Barrs had no children, they are remembered fondly by their nieces and nephews.