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Barnhart, Wayne Allen, Seaman 1st Class (GM), USNR
Deceased: April 16, 1924 – June 11, 2021
Enlisted: St. Louis, Missouri
Boot Camp: USNTS, Farragut, Idaho
Battle Station while aboard DD 803:
Discharged: June 25, 1946, US Naval Hospital, Oakland, California
What I remember about the day the DD 803 sank:
May 3, 1946 was a day of quietness until 2:15 pm in the afternoon when we became aware there were enemy planes in the area. 6:15 pm our ship was hit and sank.
My favorite memories of serving on the DD 803:
Memories of Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and sinking of the USS Little DD803
My Military Service Timeline
March 2, 1944 – June 25, 1946
RS, San Francisco, California
USS Little (DD-803)
USS Lauderdale (APA-176)
USS Lanier (APA-125)
USN Net Depot, Tiburon, California
Small Craft Facility, San Francisco, California
Ribbons / Medals
Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 2 bronze stars
American Theater Medal
WWII Victory Medal
The Library of Congress Veterans History Project
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https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.39392
Link to Obituary
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Wayne Barnhart age 97 of Springfield passed away Friday June 11, 2021, at his residence in Springfield.
Funeral services will be held 12:30 pm Tuesday June 15, 2021 at the Greenlawn Funeral Home, East. Visitation will be held from 10:30 am to the time of service.
Burial will be 2:00 pm at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield. Memorials may be made to One Life Church, 3245 S Kansas Ave, Springfield or Integrity Hospice, 3265 S National Ave, Ste. 200, Springfield, MO 65807.
Wayne was born in Meta April 16, 1924, the son of Lawrence and Irena Woody Barnhart. On November 1, 1947, he married Betty Barnhart and she preceded him in death February 26, 2014. Also preceding in death were his parents; son Greg Barnhart on October 26, 2013; granddaughter Monica Barnhart; brother Carlos Barnhart and nephew Tommy Barnhart.
He is survived by two daughters Diane Neeley (Howard) Republic; Cathy Veach (John) Springfield; son David (Karlette) Lexington, KY; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Wayne was raised on the family farm in Meta. He attended Carnes Campground School then graduated from Meta High School. Following High School, he was employed at Steel Foundry in Granite City, Ill and also worked on the family farm before entering the United States Navy in 1944, where he served during WWII. Wayne served on the destroyer, the USS Little DD803 which was attacked and sunk in 1945. Utilizing the G I Bill, he graduated in 1951 from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. He attended SMS in Springfield, then in 1968, graduated with a master’s degree in Secondary Education from Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
Wayne began teaching in June 1951 at Iberia High School in the Agriculture department, teaching farmers how to farm. For an additional six years, he taught General Science and Drivers Education. In 1966, he began teaching in the Waynesville School District and later became an Assistant Principal at Waynesville High School. He retired in 1987, then shortly after was employed part time for Drury College where he supervised student teachers.
He enjoyed watching current and historical events on tv, but most of all loved watching the Cardinal baseball games. He was active in the Church of the Nazarene where through the years he was a board member, Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, and a mentor to many. Most recently, Wayne taught a Sunday School Class in the facility where he was living.
Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, MO