Veterans Day: Honoring the fallen, keeping memories alive

While World War II served as a time of tragedy and terror, 70 years later Barney Streeter is still able to recall moments of the war with happiness, laughter, and fond memories of friends and fellow servicemen. His apartment serves as a proud reminder of his service to his country and helps honor those who were not as fortunate as him.

Streeter remembers getting his call from Uncle Sam in February 1943, being drafted alongside four other young men from the area surrounding Ritzville. Streeter immediately went to Fort Knox, Ky, before beginning a 24-month stint as an Army infantrymen.

At 19 years old, Streeter boarded a ship bound across the Atlantic and landed in Casablanca. From there, Streeter traveled to Iran and Naples, as well as many other European cities. As a lifelong Ritzville resident, serving in WWII was the first time Streeter traveled outside of the immediate area.

Initially, Streeter served as a sniper with Company F Sixth Army Infantry Regiment. The task of being a sniper was an adjustment, Streeter said, as it wasn’t anything he had been trained for.

“They handed me a rifle and said, ‘here!’” Streeter said with a chuckle, as he described how he was selected to serve as a sniper.

“It was something you had to get used to,” Streeter explained about his sniper responsibilities. “You didn’t decide whether it was nice or not.”

He began his experience in the war as a sniper, but when the house he had been staying in Naples was bombed, he lost his equipment and was reassigned. He transferred to a machine gun squad and it became a more natural fit for him, as he did not always like the solitude of being a sniper.

The war tested Streeter mentally and physically, but the one thing that was always a guarantee was fear.

“You were scared to death all the time,” Streeter stated.

While fear became a constant element in his life, as a military man Streeter to embrace the feeling and used it to be successful in his unit. He served with the First Armored 11th Infantry Battalion and became a vital member within his battalion.

From January to May in 1944, Streeter served as a member of “Operation Shingle.” Streeter explained the 5th Army Regimen’s responsibility was to hold the beachhead in Anzio, before moving up through Italy to take Rome.

The attack was supposed to be coordinated with the English working to land in France, but a storm prevented the aerial plan, and Streeter explained the troops took Rome four days before the English forces landed in France.

Streeter explained during the war, combat infantrymen received $10 more a month for their service. With a chuckle, Streeter explained the additional monies provided him with a stipend of $50 a month.

The memories, dates and experiences of WWII are still vivid in Streeter’s mind, but he uses his natural good-humor to remember the moments of positivity with pride. While he lost friends and acquaintances during the war, Streeter remained optimistic and thankful he had the opportunity to return to his hometown of Ritzville.

“I sometimes wonder what ever happened to them,” Streeter said of people he met during the war. “But I’ve never had a hankering to go back.”

Streeter did not come home empty handed, and received a variety of medals including a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Army Occupation medal and a multiple other medals.

At the age of 22, Streeter returned to Ritzville and began his life as a civilian. He was officially discharged from the Army on Dec. 7, 1945, after spending the large majority of his service in combat.

He eventually met and married Luella, and together the couple raised two daughters. The couple had been married for 47 years when Luella passed away nearly 11 years ago.

After Streeter married, he couldn’t find work in Ritzville and the family moved to Quincy where Streeter worked at a sewage treatment plant. The new career eventually moved the family to Georgia, where Streeter joined the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization. He is still a member of the VFW in Georgia today.

Eventually the Streeter’s returned to the area and for 30 years, the couple managed an apartment complex in Spokane.

Today, Streeter lives in an apartment surrounded by memorabilia and photos from WWII, as well as photos of him and Luella. He has served as a member of the Ritzville City Council for multiple terms, and continues to serve his community. He is also an active member of the local American Legion branch and had the opportunity to travel on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in 2010 to visit the war memorials alongside many other veterans.

Veterans Day serves as an opportunity for Streeter to visit the fallen and hear the stories of those who made it back. Every Veterans Day, Streeter visits the cemetery to pay his respects and also attends the Veterans Day assembly at the high school. Streeter said he enjoys attending the assemblies because he likes hearing the stories of other veterans and the information they share with the students.

As a decorated veteran and active community member, Streeter is proud of his service to his country and remembers his experience fondly, even through the tragedy. In the past few years, Streeter said he has come to release many of the men he fought alongside have passed away, and as a living WWII veteran, he enjoys sharing his story.

Veterans Day serves as an opportunity for him to express his gratitude to veterans and share his memories, which helped mold him into the man he is today.