North High School Wall of Honor
Lester Byron Barnes, Jr.
Class of June, 1940

Research done by Claradell Shedd, class of 1953. PAGE IN PROGRESS
Lester Byron Barnes, Jr.
Lester Byron Barnes, Jr. graduated in the June, 1940 class. He enlisted at the US Army Recruitment Center, Fort Des Moines, IA. His service number was 17067598. He was single when he enlisted. His next of kin was shown as Mr. and Mrs. Lester Byron Barnes, 3400 Oxford Street, Des Moines, IA.
Lester Byron Barnes, Jr.
Year x Rank x Status
June, 1940 x Graduated x North Des Moines, High School
May 26, 1942 x US Army x Enlisted at the US Army Recruitment Office, Fort Des Moines, IA
Several months x Training x *Radar School, Camp Murphy, FL
September 14, 1943-
August 25, 1945
xxx enroute to and in
European Theater
xx 115th A.A. Battalion
In European Theater x 403rd A.A. Battalion, Italy
In European Theater x **88th Division, Italy
Campaigns: Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po Valley
October 20, 1945 x US Army/Lt.Col. x Discharged.
December 14, 1997 x Deceased x Huntingtown, Calvert, Maryland, USA
Interred at Arlington National Cemetery; Section 60 Site 5521
*Camp Murphy, FL
The United States Army Signal Corps established Camp Murphy, a top-secret radar training school in 1942. Camp Murphy was located between Stuart and Jupiter in what is now Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County in southeastern Florida.

In 1942 the federal government opened Camp Murphy. It was the home of the Southern Signal Corps School during World War II and served as a US Army base for instruction in radar operation in the early course of the war. The post was named in honor of Col. William Herbert Murphy, a pioneer in the development of radio beams and equipment for military aircraft. Camp Murphy consisted of 11,364 acres (45.99 km2) and accommodated 854 officers and 5,752 enlisted men. The camp had close to 1,000 buildings that included a bank, movie theater, church and bowling alley. Camp Murphy was officially decommissioned in 1944 and used for migrant housing during the fall and winter of 1945. Buildings not already dismantled after the camp's deactivation were sold and carted away beginning in 1948. On 9 June 1947, the property was transferred from the US Govt. to the State of Florida for a State Park. In 1950 Jonathan Dickinson State Park opened to the public.

The camp included over 1,000 buildings and housed more than 6,000 officers and soldiers. The camp was deactivated in 1944 after less than two years of operation. All but three of the camp buildings have been torn down or removed but some of the building foundations remain. One foundation structure still to be seen is the vault to the Atlantic National Bank that was in the Provost building. This is an intact two-room walk-in vault although the vault doors have been removed. One of the vault doors apparently had to be forced open from inside—there is a man-sized hole in the roof immediately above the doorway with the concrete rebar bent inward.

**88th Division, Italy (US 5th Army)
88th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
Active 1917–19. Activated at Camp Dodge, IA; August 5, 1917
1942–47. Activated at Camp Gruber, OK; July 15, 1942.
Country United States of America
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Army
Nickname "Fighting Blue Devils"
"Clover Leaf Division"
Engagements World War II
US infantry divisions (1939–present)
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87th Infantry Division 89th Infantry Division
The 88th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. It was the first Army of the United States division to be created "from scratch" after the implementation of the draft in 1940.Previous divisions were regular army, reserve or National Guard. Much of the experience in creating it was used in the subsequent expansion of the Army of the United States.

The 88th Infantry Division was one of the first all draftee divisions to enter the war. Formed at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, the division arrived at Casablanca, French Morocco, 15 December 1943, and moved to Magenta, Algeria, on the 28th for intensive training. It arrived at Naples, Italy, 6 February 1944, and concentrated around Piedimonte d'Alife for combat training. An advance element went into the line before Cassino, 27 February, and the entire unit relieved British elements along the Garigliano River in the Minturno area, 5 March. A period of defensive patrols and training followed.


On 11 May, the 88th drove north to take Spigno, Mount Civita, Itri, Fondi, and Roccagorga, reached Anzio, 29 May, and pursued the enemy into Rome, being the first American unit into the city on 4 June, after a stiff engagement on the outskirts of the city. An element of the 88th is credited with being first to enter the Eternal City. After continuing across the Tiber to Bassanelio the 88th retired for rest and training, 11 June. The Division went into defensive positions near Pomerance, 5 July, and launched an attack toward Volterra on the 8th, taking the town the next day. Laiatico fell on the 11th, Villamagna on the 13th, and the Arno River was crossed on the 20th although the enemy resisted bitterly.

After a period of rest and training, the Division opened its assault on the Gothic Line, 21 September 1944, and advanced rapidly along the Firenzuola-Imola road, taking Mount Battaglia (Casola Valsenio, RA) on the 28th. The enemy counterattacked savagely and heavy fighting continued on the line toward the Po Valley. The strategic positions of Mount Grande and Farnetto were taken, 20 and 22 October. From 26 October 1944 to 12 January 1945, the 88th entered a period of defensive patrolling in the Mount Grande-Mount Cerrere sector and the Mount Fano area. From 24 January to 2 March 1945, the Division defended the Loiano-Livergnano area and after a brief rest returned to the front. The drive to the Po Valley began on 15 April. Monterumici fell on the 17th after an intense barrage and the Po River was crossed, 24 April, as the 88th pursued the enemy toward the Alps. The cities of Verona and Vicenza were captured on the 25th and 28th and the Brenta River was crossed, 30 April. The 88th was driving through the Dolomite Alps toward Innsbruck, Austria where it linked up with the 103rd Infantry Division, when the hostilities ended on 2 May 1945.

The unit was in combat for 344 days and sustained 15,173 casualties (killed, wounded or missing).

get correct pictures for Lester Obituary December, 1944;
3400 Oxford Street
Find-A-Grave; Memorial # 35017178
US Army Seal





88th Infantry Clover Division
Lester Byron Barnes, Jr.
Lt. Colonel
WWII, Korea, Vietnam
US Army
)
Des Moines, IA furlough

WWII Victory; Good Conduct; American Theater; European-African Middle Eastern Theater w/battle star (Rhineland)

WWII Victory; Good Conduct; American Theater;
European-African Middle Eastern Theater w/battle star (Rhineland)
In following campaigns: Normandy; Northern France; Ardennes; Rhineland; Central Europe






US Army Lt.Col.
References
The comprehensive list of names from North High's 1893-2018 graduation classes are from Claradell Shedd's North Des Moines High School website. The names of all North High School graduates can be found online at http://www.ndmhs.com/. Lester Byron Barnes's class page can be viewed at http://www.ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1940(1990.50).html
Died: 12/14/97. Huntingtown, Calvert, Maryland, USA
Music: "Wind Beneath My Wings"
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