Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) John J. Barros, 75, of New Bedford, died at home on September 28, 2011. He was the husband of Anna (Joia) Barros and the son of the late Teofilo J. and Anna (Coelho) Barros.
Born in Boston, he moved to New Bedford at an early age and was a 1953 graduate of New Bedford High School. He attended the University of Massachusetts and Northeastern University from which he earned a Bachelor's Degree in 1959. In 1972, he earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration, with highest distinction, from Babson College. He was also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. LTC Barros was a communicant of St. Julie Billiart Church.
Barros joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1953 and served with the 307th and 376th Infantry Regiments, 94th Infantry Division. Commissioned in the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1959, Barros' first active duty assignment was with the 82nd Airborne Division. He then served with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in France from 1962-1965. A veteran of two tours of Vietnam, he served there as both a company commander with the First Infantry Division and later on the General Staff at U.S. Army-Vietnam Headquarters. Between his combat tours, LTC Barros had served as an Associate Professor of Military Science at Clarkson College, Potsdam, New York. After completing his Master's Degree, he was assigned as a project management specialist with the Army Communications Systems Agency. He then went on to command the 122nd Signal Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. Following his tour in Korea, LTC Barros took command of the District Recruiting Command, New Haven, Connecticut, where he was responsible for Army recruiting activities in Connecticut and western Massachusetts. At the time of his retirement in 1979, LTC Barros was the Professor of Military Science and Chairman of the Military Science Department at St. Peter's College, Jersey City, New Jersey.
His awards and decorations included the Legion of Merit, three awards of the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf cluster, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Vietnam Service Medal with seven campaign stars, the Army Parachutists Badge and several other awards and citations from the U.S. Army, the Republics of Vietnam and South Korea, and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fort Phoenix Post 2892, the Retired Officers Association, and the American Association of Retired Persons. He was a former companion of the Military Order of World Wars.
Survivors include his widow; four sons, LTC Roger J. Barros and his wife Talitha of Midland, GA, Paul J. Barros and his wife Kathleen of West Wareham, Michael J. Barros and his wife Rhonda, and Sgt. Christopher J. Barros all of New Bedford; two sisters, Virginia Souza and Mary Santos, both of Fairhaven; nine grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
He was the grandfather of the late David Barros, and brother of the late Palmira Reis and John H. Barros.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 11 AM at St. Julie Billiart Church, North Dartmouth. Burial with military honors will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.