World War II veterans are national treasures that are slowly disappearing. Sixteen million Americans served in WWII and each year 555 pass away. Today 1,034,727 remain and 8,227 of them reside in Mississippi.

Tucked away in a corner room at the historic Inez in downtown Brookhaven, a housebound national treasure goes unnoticed. James W. Barlow requires no prestige, but his service, like many others, was a selfless tribute to our country.

Barlow was drafted into the army at 19. He served three years, visited seven countries and was present in all five European war zones.

“I was drafted, so I had no choice,” said Barlow. “I was 19 years old. you’re not scared when you‚you’re 19 years old, because you’re too dumb to be scared. When you are that young things don’t bother you.”

 

Barlow was stationed seven miles behind the front lines shooting a 105 mm Howitzer. The cannon-like gun weighed close to 5,000 pounds and fired high explosive semi-fixed ammunition. Each shot was loaded individually. Barlow said that he probably shot that gun 2,000 to 3,000 times over the course of the war.

“I probably killed lots of Germans, but I never saw them,” said Barlow. “I don’t call that fighting.

On June 6, 1944, American troops were sent into France in the largest sea-borne invasion in history. At least 100,000 Allied casualties died. Barlow was shipped to the beaches the day after the WWII-changing event called D Day. Remnants of the extreme hazards soldiers faced the day before were still visible.

“D-day morning we were rolled out of bed and were sent to France,” said Barlow. “We were given French francs and seasick pills and they put us on a boat. We waded to shore in waist deep water. When we got to shore, there was a section marked off as land mines. Two of the kids with me got to wrestling and rolled over a land mind and were killed.”

Barlow’s crews were assigned to a unit in France, but when they arrived they were of no use because the area was over staffed. So for two months Barlow’s group killed time.

 

“(One day) Since we had nothing to do, we took a walk down a road,” said Barlow. “There was another group walking toward us in the opposite direction and in the front of the group was my next-door neighbor. We grew up together. I spent a couple hours with him.”

Shortly after Barlow left his neighbor, the man was killed when a mortar shell exploded about his head.

“I have no favorite memories, it was all bad,” said Barlow.

Barlow was finally assigned to the 83rd division. When the war ended, they were the first to make radio contact with the Russians, who were entering Germany. He also got the chance to visit Hitler’s home Bergof.

When he returned to the United States, he landed in New Port News, Virginia, and his crew was given a proper welcome.

“We were told to go to the barracks and change clothes because we were going to dinner,” said Barlow. “They marched us down to the mess hall, where we all had a steak dinner with apple pie. When we got to the end of the line with our food, we each got an old fashioned quart of milk. I hadn’t had milk for two and a half years; nothing but powdered milk. That was some kind of meal.”

After the war, Barlow went to school at Mississippi State University and received a degree in tax accountancy in 1949. He got a job with the Chicago North Central Railroad. He worked 30 years as their tax accountant. During that time, he met the love of his life, Mildred.

“I had no plans to get married, it wasn’t in my schedule,” said Barlow. “But I couldn’t stay away from her. She had me hooked.”

Barlow’s wife passed away before he made the move to Brookhaven, so he brought her ashes with him and placed them at their family cemetery in Beauregard in Copiah County, where he was born and raised.

 

He will be turning 90 in July and for the last year he has been house bound. It does not bother him. He quietly passes time playing card games while waiting for his chance to reunite with his wife.

“Basically, I just sit here waiting to go home,” said Barlow. “I’ll be sitting here one day and the room will light up and angels will appear and take me home in the rapture. I’ll get to see my wife. I’m anxious to see her.”

Barlow was one of more than 11 million Americans who were drafted into the conflict. The humble soldier’s military experience did not define his life. He served his duty and life moved on.