The Spirit Of Veterans Day
by Ed Lowe, Newsday, November 10, 2000
[Excerpt] Tomorrow, formerly Armistice Day, is Veterans Day.
A recent story told how Frank DeCicco of Bethpage found himself remembering Willard (Bill) Barber, an older boy from the Astoria apartment building of his youth who, like DeCicco, was fatherless, and who on occasion played the role of big brother to the kid from across the hall.
When DeCicco was still a boy during World War II, Barber shipped out with the Merchant Marine and twice had ships shot out from under him and twice was rescued after perilous days at sea in lifeboats. He died years later.
Retired now, DeCicco recently discovered the Bethpage Public Library and, in it, the doorway to the Internet; and, in that, an opportunity to honor the memory of his boyhood pal by including Barber's name in a list at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.
He first needed the name of a ship on which Barber served, though. To get that information from the Coast Guard, he needed a death certificate from New York City. To get that, he needed either to be a blood relative or to have one obtain it for him. He was stuck.
Among the people who read the story was a niece of Bill Barber, whom DeCicco did not know, and who lives in Syosset. She contacted DeCicco and offered to help. In addition to that, I received an e-mail yesterday from a man whom DeCicco had found on the Internet and consulted. It read, in part: "My name is Matty Loughran, Historian, North Atlantic Chapter, American Merchant Marine Vets (AMMV). I attempted to assist Frank DeCicco a while back, to no avail.
After reading your story about Willard J. Barber, I noticed that he was torpedoed twice. I searched my records and found that only 13 ships had been attacked by Japanese subs in that area. I narrowed it down to the SS Henry Knox and sent for the crew list of this ship. She was torpedoed 06/19/43 by I-37 (Otani). Thirteen Naval Armed Guard, 2 officers and 11 men perished. All three life boats reached the Maldive Islands, one boat in 8 days, one in 9, and the last, 11 days after the attack. They all finally reached Colombo, Ceylon.
Willard J. (Bill) Barber was one of the survivors. This is the information that Frank was looking for, and it will enable him to have his friend enrolled in the 'Honor Roll Book in the Chapel at the USMMA.'
And, from DeCicco: "One last note: My friend Bill was born 6-19-18. The Henry Knox was sunk 6-19-43, on his 25th birthday."