Naval History and Heritage Command

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Neel Glenn Barnaby was born in Dublin, Texas, on August 31, 1907, son of Claude L. and Bessie S. (Cushenberry) Barnaby, both now deceased.  He attended Waco and Walnut Springs High Schools, graduating from Waco High School and subsequently had extensive correspondence training in Electrical and Civil Engineering, and Mechanical and Petroleum Engineering (construction, refining and processing).  He entered the US Naval Reserve on April 1, 1943, as Carpenter, CEC-V(S), and was commissioned in the rank of Lieutenant Commander on August 11, 1949.  He was promoted to the rank of Commander, to date from July 1, 1955.

Called to active duty during World War II, he served from December 1943 until December 1944 as Transportation Officer and Heavy Equipment Officer at Navy #131, under Commander Service Squadron, South Pacific.  For five months he was Officer, Iwo Jima, 9^th Navy Construction Brigade; Heavy Equipment Officer, Saipan, 43^rd Construction Regiment.  From April through July 1945 he was with the Navy-Army 6^th Brigade, as Construction Material Liaison Officer, Army-Navy, Tinian, and soon after the cessation of hostilities, he was released from active duty.  He then returned to his occupation as Petroleum Engineer, Cosden Petroleum Corporation, at Big Spring, Texas.

He was recalled to active duty on October 1950, and during the fourteen months to follow was stationed in Adak, Alaska, as Assistant Officer in Charge and Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, Contract Noy 13913, at Adak, Shemya, Amchitka, Cold Bay and Umnak, Alaska.  In January 1952 he reported to the District Public Works Officer, Ninth Naval District, Great Lakes, Illinois and there served for four months as Special Assistant for Title VIII Housing.  From May 1952 until May 1956 he was attached to the Naval Air Station, Dallas, Texas, as Public Works Officer, Officer in Charge of Construction, Resident Officer in Charge of Construction and Public Works Officer, Navy Area.

In June 1956 he reported to the Naval Supply Depot, Clearfield, Ogden, Utah, for similar duty in the Navy Area, Fort Douglas, and as Officer in Charge of Bureau of Yards and Docks Contracts.

Commander Barnaby has the American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three operation stars; World War II Victory Medal; and National Defense Service Medal.  He also has the Naval Reserve Medal (for ten years’ service in the US Naval Reserve) and the Expert Rifleman Medal and Expert Pistol Shot Medal.  In addition he has Commendatory Letters from the Chief of Naval Operations, the District Public Works Officer, Twelfth Naval District, and the Commander, Fleet Air, Alameda.

Commander Barnaby is a member of the American Legion and the Oakridge Country Club.  His hobbies are golf, hunting and fishing.

At his home in Big Spring, Texas, Commander Barnaby was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, Independent Order of Oddfellows (all branches and degrees), and the First Methodist Church of Big Spring.

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