BARRETT Frederick Taylor Barrett December 12, 1927 – February 20, 2022 Col. Frederick Taylor Barrett, U.S. Army (Ret.) of Arlington, Virginia passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 20, 2022. He was 94 years old. Born in Long Island, New York, he joined the military at age 17, requiring parental consent. When his mother refused to sign the age waiver, he convinced his older sister to sign his mother’s name, thus launching his 33-year military career. He began his military life in basic training in 1945 as World War II drew to a close. He then served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In 1946, he was promoted to second lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps. From 1946 to 1950 he served in the occupation army, Yokohama/Tokyo Japan where he met Gladys Saleeby. In 1949, Gladys was working as a missionary for the Episcopal Church in Shanghai, China. She was evacuated to Tokyo, Japan, after the Chinese communist takeover. Although they lived two blocks from each other in Brooklyn, NY, and attended the same high school, they never spoke to each other other than the occasional hello. It was a chance meeting in an American cafeteria in Tokyo, Japan that started their romance and 70-year marriage. His career highlights include 1951-1952 he attended the US Army Language School in Monterey, California for Korean. From 1952 to 1953, he served as a Regimental Prisoner of War Interrogator, 25th Infantry Division in Korea. 1953-1955 Special Agent, 441st CIC Detachment, Japan 1955-1956 Student, US Army Intelligence School, Fort Holabird, MD 1956-1959 Staff Officer, HQ. US CONARC, Fort Monroe, VA 1959-1960 Student, US Army Security Agency School, Fort Devens, MA 1960-1961 S2, US Army Security Agency, Hawaii 1961-1962 US Army Element, Joint Support Group, Seoul, Korea 1962-1966 Counterintelligence Staff Officer, OACSI, DA, Washington, DC 1966-1968 Commander, Collection Detachment, 502d MI Bn., Seoul, Korea 1968-1969 G2, 1st Cavalry Division, Vietnam 1969-1972 Commander , 116th MI Group/Director of Operations, USAFAC, Washington, DC 1972-1973 Student, Department of State, Foreign Service Language Institute, for Turkish 1973-1976 U.S. Army Attaché/Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy United, Ankara, Turkey 1976-1979 Commander, US Task Group, Fort Meade, MD During his 33 year career in the military, he received numerous medals, decorations, citations and commendations. Most notable are the Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Force Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam service and many more. In addition to his military decorations, he was fluent in Korean and Turkish. His military career was followed by 12 years as a regional security manager for Mobile Oil. His work at Mobil included time in London where he traveled extensively overseeing Mobil Oil’s security in Africa, Turkey and the North Sea. He and Gladys returned to the United States where they lived in Dallas, Texas for six years. When Mobil Oil moved its headquarters to Fairfax, Virginia, they moved back to their Arlington home until he retired from Mobil. After his retirement, Fred always had the desire to be of service. At the end of the Balkan Wars, he volunteered as an international election observer for several of the newly formed countries that were once part of the Republic of Yugoslavia. His other volunteer services included work at the National Archives, volunteering for Arlington County elections, and assistant treasurer of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. He remained active for many years and played tennis until his 80s. Between deployments, career obligations and raising a family, he continued his college education. He received his BA in Political Science from George Washington University (1964) and his MSc. in Business Administration from George Washington University (1972). Although the army was his life, he was proudest of his immediate family. He and Gladys had four children whom they raised in various army positions and overseas postings throughout his career. He is survived by his wife Gladys Saleeby Barrett, his children Alice, (Brendan), Kathryn, (Craig), Gale, Fred, (Denise), five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews . A funeral service will be held Saturday, February 26, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 2609 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22207. A service with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fisher House Foundation and Army Emergency Relief. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fisher House Foundation and Army Emergency Relief.
Published by the Washington Post on February 24, 2022.
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