Tribute to a Gringo Named Jack Barnes –

By Bruce Strotman

"MOVE TO OFFUTT??--Have they gone mad??" The Beaners of the early 70’s were most upset when the word came that their Det at Homestead would close and they would transition to RC-135’s operated by the Strategic Air Command at Offutt.

Homestead had been a great assignment--not easy, but it was a short commute to "work"---almost like the real world---get in your vehicle, tune in your favorite station and catch up on what is going on. And before you knew it--you were at work!!! The weather was great; TAC had few clearances and did what they were told --to include getting permission to use the head. Fidel kept the pot stirred and provided jets to the local Airshow on occasion. Det Commanders were "almost trainable" and no one bothered the unit. Best of all, The Fort understood where the real experts were----’twas WONDERFUL!

So it was that the move to Omaha was less than welcome and could have been a genuine disaster for the Air Force, the country and, especially, the crew members.
Winter weather--in the shadow of Headquarters SAC with hundreds of Colonels and lots of flag officers---(lots
of help!!!!)---and a very, very long commute on a totally different machine!!! From palm trees inside the fence of a converted Wing Headquarters building to a crowded shanty built inside a bomber plant. It sounds like: "Cancel leaves and passes until the morale improves!!!" Into this fracas walked a new commander---fresh out of Viet Nam as an ops officer , one year experience in the business with the glittering credential of "Command Section Pilot" -- pilot for the Commander of Security Service.

It looked like a PLANNED catastrophe!! EXCEPT--the new guy was JACK BARNES--a one of a kind person and leader.

Jack may not have had a lot of time "in the business", but he had a lifetime working WITH people--- solving problems and getting tough things done right. He was more than up to the task at hand. Jack immediately won the hearts of unit members; not by pampering them or
commiserating with them about a bad situation, but by
digging in and working with them to get the job done.

Jack did not let the HEADQUARTERS SAC mystique overpower him. He fought for his people and retained the autonomy and integrity of the squadron. While he worked and coordinated with the SAC seniors, he always had time for every member of his own unit. Many described the relationship as: "he simply adopted each of us much like his own son" and cared for them as such. He had time for hard, unrewarding work (so typical of the command), but he also loved practical jokes and was the anonymous originator of many. He and wife Fran, truly became the parents of the entire unit. He often took people out to the base lake for some less than serious fishing. He loved to fish----another of those unique "fishers of men" !!

When the idea of Honorary Beaners was first devised---in the 70’s---the first name on the list was Jack Barnes. What was it that made this guy so special? Lots of things went in that recipe---Jack pulled a hitch in the US Merchant Marine as a youngster! Already familiar with hard work, he took on the rigors of sea duty and learned the critical importance of crew camaraderie. He then joined the Air Force and worked his way through the ranks to TSGT---before there were super grades-- then went to the Aviation Cadet Program to win his wings and a commission. While an NCO at Bainbridge, Georgia, Jack took young aviators who were on the wash-out list and tutored them at his little flight school and saved many from the ax. This compassion and concern for people and training carried over into his future jobs. While a pilot at the Command Section, when General Coira was USAFSS Commander, Jack also operated the Training Section for both the San Antonio flyers and the pilots assigned to Goodfellow.  His super attitude and friendly manner won the attention of General Coira and he asked Jack to take an ops job to expand his career and contribute in other areas. His follow-on performance at Tan San Nhut obviously won him the opportunity, and challenge, of the Offutt job.

The Jack Barnes' story is almost too good to be true,
except for the final chapter. In the summer of 1972 Jack became ill, went to the hospital and was diagnosed with cancer. He was immediately sent to Wilford Hall, fought the good fight, but there was no hope and Jack died a few months later. Was Jack's tenure at Offutt a success?

The question is best answered by simple fact----the man was the 6949th Commander for the shortest time of any, but when the Beaner Committee established the Beaner Hall of Honor the NUMBER ONE INDUCTEE: A Gringo named Jack Barnes.

May he rest in peace.