Allyn Jay Barr’s ever-present smile was infectious. He brought a measure of calm to tense situations. And he was a “straight-shooter,” both literally and figuratively: He was a top competitor on Army’s Pistol Team. Furthermore, his intellectual honesty and humility won him the widespread trust that made him successful both as a leader in the Army and as a professional engineer.
Although born in Hartford, CT, Barr was truly a native of the Sunshine State, moving to Florida in 1940. Living near the coast, he developed an interest in the sea and joined the Naval Reserves before winning an appointment to West Point.
Al found West Point academically challenging. He was turned-out (failed) twice, but, with some help from Mike Lane, Dick Schofield, and Tom Kopp, along with his own determination, he successfully passed the turn-out exams. He excelled with a pistol on a strong Army team that went undefeated in 1960, setting Academy and national records and winning first place at the U.S. Pistol Association Championship that year. Al also pursued his nautical interests with the Sailing Club, mastering the challenges of sailing without a motor in the strong currents of the Hudson River.
After completing the Armor branch basic course and Airborne training, he was first assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Meade, MD, where he honed the skills of a cavalry scout with the 1st Squadron. These skills were put to the test when the unit deployed to the front lines of Germany, facing much larger numbers of Warsaw Pact forces at the height of the Cold War. In 1962, Al came home on leave and married Amy Hills, and they returned to Germany.
While attending the Armor Officer Advanced Course at Fort Knox, KY, their son Roger was born. A few months later, Al was assigned to the 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division, and the family moved to Fort Hood, TX, where he commanded C Company in the 1st Battalion.
In 1965, Al volunteered for Vietnam as part of the early build-up of U.S. forces. He joined the 1st Air Cavalry Division, one of the first units to employ helicopters on a large scale. The division was a key part of the defense of Pleiku, a provincial capital and military logistics hub in the central highlands. With a predominantly Montagnard population and located near Vietcong/North Vietnamese base areas in Cambodia, Pleiku was under constant threats. By helping build and hold together a team in combat, Allyn Barr passed the ultimate test of Soldiers.
The Vietnam War stressed his family and contributed to a divorce from Amy after Al returned home to Jacksonville, FL in 1967. In August 1967, Al left the Army as a captain and began a new career in engineering. He first worked as a mechanical engineer designing heating and cooling systems. In 1981, Al passed the exams to become a licensed professional engineer. By 1987, he was the Vice President of Sunbelt Engineering, a busy job given that Jacksonville was growing from a small, Navy-base town into a metropolitan complex at the time.
In 1969, Al married Rose Marie Lewis (nee Hatchell). They each had sons by previous marriages, Steve and Roger. In time, the family grew to include five grandchildren and became the center of Al and Rose Marie’s life.
While still working as an engineer, Al became very active with the West Point Society of North Florida, serving on its Board of Directors and as its historian for many years until just before his death. He was fully engaged in a wide range of activities advancing the cause of his beloved alma mater, often with Rose Marie at his side helping with innumerable projects requiring their skill and time. There was no prouder supporter of West Point than Al. Fair winds, old friend.
— Classmates and Family