H. Duane Barnhart

CDR H. Duane Barnhart USN Ret. (Age 85) On Sunday, March 12, 2017 of Ft. Belvoir, VA; beloved husband of Minerva A. Barnhart; loving father of Jeanmarie Rey (Peter); grandfather of Jonathan Rey; brother of Carole Hauf, Delores Patocka, and Mary Ann Benson. Duane was a 1950 graduate of Norfolk High School, and a 1956 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Memorial Mass at St. Raymond of Peñafort Roman Catholic Church, 8750 Pohick Rd, Springfield, VA 22153 on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 11 am. Committal Service (inurnment) will take place at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium at Annapolis at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. BIOGRAPHY Harold Duane Barnhart December 22, 1931 – March 12, 2017 Duane was born in Wagner, South Dakota and was one of 8 children. He grew up in Norfolk, Nebraska and attended Norfolk High School where he graduated in 1950. He enlisted in the Navy and attended the U.S. Naval Academy Prep School, where his academic achievement gained him one of the 160 appointments to the U.S. Naval Academy. As a midshipman, Duane was an avid sailor and long distance runner. He graduated in 1956 as a member of the 19th Company. Duane then attended flight training and certified in the A-4 Skyhawk (aka "Scooter"), a single seat attack aircraft. He served with A-4 squadrons aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard, Constellation, Coral Sea, and Ranger. This included three 7th Fleet deployments to Vietnam where he flew over 200 combat missions. For his action in Vietnam, Duane received the Navy Commendation Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal, amongst others. For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on September 18, 1967 where he faced heavy enemy anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missile defenses while making a dive bombing run on a bridge in the port city of Haiphong, North Vietnam. Following his return from combat duties, Duane met Minerva Arcilla at a 1969 Tailhook convention in Las Vegas. After a 3 year courtship, they married on Treasure Island near San Francisco in March of 1972. Married life took Duane and Minerva to various military duty locations such as California, Washington state, Japan, and the Philippines. Duane's last sea duty was aboard the USS Enterprise, after which he retired from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December of 1981. In 1983, following retirement and 11 years of marriage, Duane and Minerva welcomed their one and only child, Gigi, into the world. At 52 years of age, Duane became a first time parent! Duane took great pride and joy in raising Gigi as a stay at home dad. He drove Gigi to and from school and other extra-curricular activities, to include ballet and violin lessons. As Gigi grew, he shared with her his joy of sailing, flying, skiing, surfing, and hiking. An avid reader and debater, Duane was also an active member of the Toastmasters Club in Hawaii and sang in the church choir for 20 years along with his wife and daughter. After living in Hawaii for 30 years, Duane and Minerva moved to The Fairfax in Northern Virginia in 2009 to be closer to Gigi and Peter (son-in-law) who are both military officers. In 2012, they welcomed their first grandchild, Jonathan Rey. Throughout his life, Duane loved and served God, country, and his family. He displayed honor, courage and commitment in all aspects of his life, and will be remembered always.

Tributes

H. Duane Barnhart

December 22, 1931 - March 12, 2017