Page 58 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2025 - Online Magazine

by Vickie Walters

foot wall with barbed wire (to keep
the camels, zebras, and ostriches out
of the barracks).
Many servicemen and women
describe their military careers as
“routine,” but without exception,
they come home with at least one
memory that they never forget. Barry
still tears up over one incident he
arry Smith and his twin did not have it in stock, Barry called witnessed. He vividly remembers
brother Garey were born in all over the world to find it. If it seeing the horrific scene of a
BDuncan, OK on January 14, was going to be a long time before United States plane flying over the
1943. Because their father worked in it was shipped, he would fill out a Mediterranean Sea, catching on fire,
the oil industry, they moved quite “cannibalization form” and “rob” and landing on their air strip. The
a bit, but they mainly grew up in the part from a grounded plane fire started rolling into the cockpit
Levelland, TX where they graduated (authorized process of removing threatening to engulf the pilot when
from high school in 1961. Barry was a serviceable parts from one aircraft a helicopter pilot saw what was
drummer in the band and went on to and installing them on another happening and hovered his chopper
play drums in the Goin’ Band from aircraft to meet priority mission just above the cockpit to push the
Raiderland during his time at Texas requirements). flames away. The pilot was able to
Tech University. He left after two and walk out of the cockpit alive.
half years and went back to work at Barry still says the best Mexican food Barry’s barracks on the Libya base
Haskins Grocery Store in Levelland he has ever eaten was in Laredo at housed two airmen to a room with
as a butcher. In 1964 he was hired at a little restaurant in front of a motel no air conditioning. They did have
Pan American Oil Company, where down the street from his home. fans and would shower at night and
his father worked. They served a dozen enchiladas for
$1.50. He took full advantage of the not dry off so the fans would cool
In 1966, Barry received his draft bargain, eating there several times a them down and they could sleep
letter, but did not want to join the week. more easily. Temperatures averaged
Army. He chose the Air Force like his 110 degrees at night. Unlike his
father had. In basic, he trained with After two and a half years in Laredo, compatriots, Barry was accustomed
AR-15 rifles, and he became very he was transferred to Tripoli, Libya. to that kind of heat because he had
good at shooting, finishing one shot One of the prettiest sights he has worked in the oil field. Also, Tripoli
below expert. He was first stationed ever seen was flying over the Swiss had a busy camel market not far
in Laredo, TX, identified as Air Force Alps after they had stopped in from the base, and no one cleaned
Specialty Code (AFSC), and attached Germany to refuel. Barry had the up the mess the camels made, so at
to field maintenance. His specific job same occupation in Tripoli as he’d night when the wind was just right,
was managing parts for the planes had in Laredo and was based there it stunk up the whole base. He says
that flew in and out of the base. If a for fifteen months. The base was a the entire town smelled bad all the
plane had a bad part and the base bombing range surrounded by a 21- time.

58 Lubbock Senior Link