Page 76 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2023 - Online Magazine

Marines
navy
22 years

the rest of the crew of the space shuttle Columbia.

Still, Barry recognizes the unexpected blessings in
his life. “I was a high school dropout and a juvenile
delinquent! One time in Nam, we came out of the
field to Dong Ha. I was standing outside of a tent
between two guys. We heard, ‘Incoming!’ A rocket
hit the tent ten feet away, and the two guys on either
side of me were killed. I eventually realized that God
saved me for something special. I believe it was to be
the father to
my children.”
Willie and Barry's last flight together
Whatever
all overachievers!” Barry says. “Willie graduated the reason,
second out of 1083 from the Naval Academy. Kirstie the world
is equally brilliant. She put herself through college is fortunate
working as a computer tech for defense contractors that Barry
like General Dynamics. She was once named and Audrey
Florida’s Entrepreneur of the Year. Son Shawn, connected
now a physician’s assistant with the VA, was a and that they
Blackhawk Chopper Pilot with two combat tours in raised three
Afghanistan.” outstanding
children who
Space does not permit listing the achievements of gave them
all the offspring, but notably, grandson Sean was a seven amazing
Marine captain, completing two tours in Afghanistan; grandchildren.
granddaughter Nikki, a TTU Nursing School Lubbock is
graduate, is an RN/CNP; and grandson Hunter lucky they
is a graduate of West Point with a combat tour in landed here. Sean McCool (USMC) and
Afghanistan. “I was blessed when I married Audrey daughter Mia
and fortunate that our children have all excelled.”
The McCool family legacy includes Barry’s uncle
Delbert McCool, an Army Air Corps pilot and his
mother’s uncle, a 1st Class Petty Officer in WWII.
The immediate family—Barry, Audrey, and their
two sons, Willie and Shawn, —racked up 90 years
of military service. Adding in grandson Sean’s
service, it’s up to 120 years. That is a lot of sacrifice
for one family, but it pales in comparison to the
ultimate sacrifice that this Gold Star family made
when Willie lost his life on Feb. 1, 2003, along with

This story generously sponsored by Alan and Carolyn Lackey

76 Lubbock Senior Link