U.S. Army Spc. Jacob D. Barton, 20, was one of five soliders killed when a fellow soldier opened fire at the Medical Treatment Facility in Camp Liberty, a sprawling U.S. base on the western edge of Baghdad near the city’s international airport.
PFC Jacob Barton was a member of the 955th Engineer Co., a reserve unit, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, which was activated to support the 277th Engineer Co. of San Antonio, Texas, for deployment out of Fort Bliss, Texas.
Barton, who grew up here and graduated last spring from Rolla High School, was living at his grandmother’s in Lenox during his senior year because of his mother’s illness and hospitalization. His mother, Mary Coleman, died in February 2008.
However, Barton already had begun serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. Through the delayed-entry program, he was serving weekends during his senior year of high school at Rolla High.
According to Barton’s friend, Johnathan Peterson, 17, the Army was a bright spot in the young soldier’s life.
“He was really glad he was serving his country. He was excited, thrilled,” Peterson recalled Wednesday.
While some family members and friends described Barton as a “loner,” Peterson said a more apt description was ‘shy.’
“He was very kind-hearted. He was the kind of person who’d take his jacket off his own back to keep you dry,” said Peterson.
Rolla High School guidance counselor Kimberly Maskrey agreed. She worked closely with Barton last year after he fell behind in his school work, attributed mostly to his mother’s illness and death.
“He was really focused on graduating on time to be able to enter the military,” she said. “But he also liked helping his family. He loved his grandmother, and I think he worried about her. He would get up early last winter to bring in wood for the fire before going to school.”
“He was a very likable young man,” Maskrey continued. “Jacob knew what needed to be done and did it.
“This was tough news to take. He’ll be missed by many. This is a tragic loss for Rolla High School,” Maskery said.
Rose Coleman of Lenox, Barton’s maternal grandmother, said her grandson was a hard-working, caring young man who loved “all kinds” of computer games and his family.
She said he e-mailed his sister, Hannah, often, and enjoyed playing with her children.
“He sure loved his niece and nephew,” recalled Coleman, her voice choked with emotion.
“Jacob was an all-around good guy,” stated Peterson, who said the two friends enjoyed playing computer games, hiking and just ‘hanging out.’
Peterson, formerly of Rolla who now resides in Port St. Lucie, Fla., said he was considering enlisting in the Army, “just like his friend Jacob Barton.”
“He played a key role in my life. He was a great influence,” said Peterson.
Asked what people remember most about Jacob, Peterson answered:
“He’ll be remembered for how he treated you. No matter what, he was there for you.”
Coleman said funeral arrangements would not be finalized until Jacob’s body was returned to the States. On Wednesday, Hannah was traveling to Maryland to claim it, she said.
PFC Jacob Barton was a member of the 955th Engineer Co., a reserve unit, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, which was activated to support the 277th Engineer Co. of San Antonio, Texas, for deployment out of Fort Bliss, Texas.
The shooting is under investigation.
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U.S. Army Spc. Jacob D. Barton, 20, was one of five soliders killed when a fellow soldier opened fire at the Medical Treatment Facility in Camp Liberty, a sprawling U.S. base on the western edge of Baghdad near the city’s international airport.
PFC Jacob Barton was a member of the 955th Engineer Co., a reserve unit, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, which was activated to support the 277th Engineer Co. of San Antonio, Texas, for deployment out of Fort Bliss, Texas.
Barton, who grew up here and graduated last spring from Rolla High School, was living at his grandmother’s in Lenox during his senior year because of his mother’s illness and hospitalization. His mother, Mary Coleman, died in February 2008.
However, Barton already had begun serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. Through the delayed-entry program, he was serving weekends during his senior year of high school at Rolla High.
According to Barton’s friend, Johnathan Peterson, 17, the Army was a bright spot in the young soldier’s life.
“He was really glad he was serving his country. He was excited, thrilled,” Peterson recalled Wednesday.
While some family members and friends described Barton as a “loner,” Peterson said a more apt description was ‘shy.’
“He was very kind-hearted. He was the kind of person who’d take his jacket off his own back to keep you dry,” said Peterson.
Rolla High School guidance counselor Kimberly Maskrey agreed. She worked closely with Barton last year after he fell behind in his school work, attributed mostly to his mother’s illness and death.
“He was really focused on graduating on time to be able to enter the military,” she said. “But he also liked helping his family. He loved his grandmother, and I think he worried about her. He would get up early last winter to bring in wood for the fire before going to school.”
“He was a very likable young man,” Maskrey continued. “Jacob knew what needed to be done and did it.
“This was tough news to take. He’ll be missed by many. This is a tragic loss for Rolla High School,” Maskery said.
Rose Coleman of Lenox, Barton’s maternal grandmother, said her grandson was a hard-working, caring young man who loved “all kinds” of computer games and his family.
She said he e-mailed his sister, Hannah, often, and enjoyed playing with her children.
“He sure loved his niece and nephew,” recalled Coleman, her voice choked with emotion.
“Jacob was an all-around good guy,” stated Peterson, who said the two friends enjoyed playing computer games, hiking and just ‘hanging out.’
Peterson, formerly of Rolla who now resides in Port St. Lucie, Fla., said he was considering enlisting in the Army, “just like his friend Jacob Barton.”
“He played a key role in my life. He was a great influence,” said Peterson.
Asked what people remember most about Jacob, Peterson answered:
“He’ll be remembered for how he treated you. No matter what, he was there for you.”
Coleman said funeral arrangements would not be finalized until Jacob’s body was returned to the States. On Wednesday, Hannah was traveling to Maryland to claim it, she said.
PFC Jacob Barton was a member of the 955th Engineer Co., a reserve unit, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, which was activated to support the 277th Engineer Co. of San Antonio, Texas, for deployment out of Fort Bliss, Texas.
The shooting is under investigation.
