THE WALL OF FACES

I was a baseball teammate of DJ at Duke. I’ll never forget his great sense of humor. Thanks for your heroism and sacrifice.
Jim Liccardo Duke ‘67

49 years ago, I lost a friend in Vietnam. He was 2LT Drew J Barrett, USMC. I met him through another guy, who was a roommate, and DJ was always hanging out at our place. He was stationed at Quantico. My roommate was LT Joe Beale, USMC.

He was just a joy to be around; he was thoughtful with a touch of crazy mixed in. We all had so much fun together. One day, he showed up at our place in Arlington with a new corvette. It took every dime he had and would make for quite a while. He had this toothy grin, and you couldn't help but laugh. It was also sad when he hit that deer on his way to Quantico, that totaled the car.

Then the call from DJ's mom. I had met both her and his dad a few times. DJ would always pick his mom up and she would laugh while demanding : Put me down !!

It was 49 years ago, but I still miss him. I wish he could have lived, and brought that spark he always infused to all of us; to others.

Jim and I were best friends at Camp Lejeune High School. Jim was the quarterback of the football team, the star of the basketball team, and the catcher on the baseball team when I pitched. He was a rare, natural leader who drew people around him because he was so authentic and genuinely cared about others. I heard that Colonel Ed Danowitz was with Jim when he passed and that Jim was semi-conscious and appeared to be dribbling a basketball in his dreams. You never gave up. I still think of you often as one of the most inspirational and likable people I ever knew. Semper Fi, my friend.

Second Lieutenant Drew James Barrett III, Served with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

DEAR LIEUTENANT BARRETT,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A BASIC INFANTRY OFFICER. SEMPER FI. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE. ADVENT IS HERE, AND CHRISTMAS IS APPROACHING. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU. THE NEW YEAR IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, WHICH MAKES IT FAR TOO LONG FOR YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE.