A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
Don Barnum graduated from Independence (Oregon) High School on 7 June 1929.
From an unidentified contemporary newspaper, 1 August 1937: Donald Barnum given transfer to Capitol. Don Barnum, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Barnum of Independence and staff member at the U.S. naval station at Astoria, has received notice of transfer to Washington, D.C., according to word received here. The move is in the nature of a promotion with salary increase.
The transfer will take effect on February 1 but Mr. and Mrs. Barnum will spend a time in San Francisco before preceding east to make their home.
Mr. Barnum enlisted in the Navy in 1929 and received training at the naval radio school at San Diego. He spent a study period in Washington in 1933 and then two years in the Philippine Islands.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnum will be in Independence this week end, visiting with friends and relatives.
From an unidentified contemporary newspaper, 13 May 1938: Mrs. Don W. Barnum, daughter of Mrs. Sophia Krieg, arrived by plane at the Portland airport Sunday evening from Washington, D.C., where the Barnums have been residing during the past year. She will be joined later by Mr. Barnum who is attending the Naval Radio Material school in Washington, D.C. They expect to make their home in Honolulu. Mr. Barnum is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Barnum of this city.
Donald Warren Barnum was born on 13 Mar 1911 in Saint Maries, Benewah, Idaho and died on 28 May 1997 in Salem, Marion, Oregon. He was a Navy Radioman during World War II, quickly rising to the rank of Chief Radioman.
In the 1940 US Census for Waianae, Honolulu, Hawaii Territory the family of Donald Barnum was enumerated as follows:
Farrington Highway; Family 170; Non-farm home rented for $15/mo.
Barnum, Doris; Head; Female; Caucasian; 30; Married; Highest grade: 12; b. Oregon; Not at work on previous work day; No income
Barnum, Richard; Son; Male; Caucasian; 1; Single
At the time of this census Donald Barnum was stationed at US Naval Radio Station Lualualei, Honolulu, Hawaii Territory where he was enumerated as follows:
Barnum, Donald W.; Head; Male; Caucasian; 29; Married; b. Idaho; At work on last regular work day; Radioman first class; U.S. Navy; Wage earner; Government; Wages or salary received previous 12 months, $1,156; Income from other sources, Yes
Later that same year he was promoted to Chief Radioman and transferred to the island of Guam, where he was captured by the Japanese just three days after the Pearl Harbor Attack.
From an unidentified contemporary newspaper, probably about Fall 1943: Mrs. Donald W. Barnum of Independence recently received a message from her husband who is held prisoner by the Japanese in Hirohata sub-camp. Osaka, Japan.
Don Barnum, a chief radioman in the navy and a veteran of 15 years service, was taken off Guam in December, 1941.
From another unidentified contemporary newspaper, undated: Don Barnum, chief radioman recently released from a Jap prison camp, is planning to return to sea duty with the navy at the termination of his leave which he is spending with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Barnum of Independence. He recently was guest speaker at the Oregon College of Education, where his mother, Mrs. Sophie Barnum, is a faculty member. A regular navy man, Barnum was a prisoner for 45 months before he was liberated from a camp at Kobe.
Following his capture by the Japanese, Don spent nearly four years as a prisoner of war. He was first held at Zentsuji and later at Osaka #1 Chikko Camp. When the Chikko Camp was destroyed by US bombing raids, he was transferred to Nagoya #10, arriving there on June 20, 1945, according to the camp report; he was there only two and a half months until his release at the end of the war. Following his release he was commissioned as an officer and made the Navy his career. After retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, he took his family to live in Corvallis, Oregon where they remained until his death.
Some say that only combat veterans from Vietnam and later military actions suffered lasting adjustment problems; the 1945 vet came home to enjoy prosperity, satisfied with a job well done, and with few qualms about the war. However, some veterans suffered an anguish that damaged their lives and that of their families. Don Barnum was one of those who, as a result of his experiences as a prisoner of war, suffered physical and emotional problems for the rest of his life.
He rarely spoke of his experiences as a prisoner of war, but once told of an occurrence that he remembered particularly. In the Osaka Main Camp, where he was held, the garbage was collected in an oxcart by an elderly Filipino. One day the prisoners created a disturbance to direct his attention elsewhere and when he returned to his rounds he found the oxcart standing alone without its ox. By the time he discovered his loss and began running about the camp shouting, "Mi bool, mi bool", the prisoners had already killed and butchered the unfortunate "bull" (ox) and it was well on the way to forming the basis of one of the few nutritious meals that the POWs had eaten during their years of imprisonment.
As a result of his experiences, Don angered easily, and would occasionally alight from his car in traffic to loudly berate a pedestrian or another driver for some inattention to traffic laws or regulations. He once followed another car several miles out of his way to corner the driver and angrily rant at him for having made an illegal u-turn.
In later years Don had grave problems with the circulation in his legs, which led to numerous vein replacement surgeries and finally to amputation. Even when he was finally bedridden as a result of those amputations, he continued to abuse his wife emotionally and physically.
World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 about Donald Warren Barnum. Name: Donald Warren Barnum; Relative Name: Mrs. Doris Hermina Barnum; Relative Relationship: Wife; State: Oregon; Country: United States; Type of Casualty: POW, Released From Prison Camp; Roll: ww2c_27. Transcript: Oregon Released Prisoners. Barnum, Donald Warren, Chief Radioman, USN. Wife, Mrs. Doris Hermina Barnum, 41 3d. St., Independence.
World War II Prisoners of War, 1941-1946 about Donald Warren Barnum. Name: Donald Warren Barnum; Residence State: Oregon; Report Date: 8 Dec 1941; Latest Report Date: Oct 1945; Grade: Chief Radioman; Service Branch: Navy; Arm or Service: United States Navy; Arm or Service Code: United States Navy; Area Served: Asiatic Theatre: Japan; Detaining Country: Japan; Camp: Osaka Main Camp Chikko Osaka 34-135; Status: Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated. Report Source: Individual has been reported through sources considered official.
World War II Prisoners of the Japanese, 1941-1945. Name: Donald Warren Barnum; Branch of Service: United States Navy; Rank: Chief Radioman; Service Number: 3929942; Sub Unit: Radio Libugon; Assigned Unit: Guam; Source: http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/guam/guamroster.html; POW Camp/Notes: Osaka area.
According to information found in U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949, Barnum, Donald Warren, 392-99-42, CRM (AA), enlisted 8 Jun 1935 at Cavite, Philippine Islands and appeared in official muster lists as follows:
09/14/40 - Received aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) from Com. Activities 14th Naval District for duty FA Cincus.
09/21/40 - Transferred From USS Enterprise (CV-6) to USS New Mexico (BB-40) for FA duty Cincus.
12/26/40 - Received aboard USS New Mexico (BB-40) from detached duty with 14th Naval District.
01/15/41 - Transferred from USS New Mexico (BB-40) to USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), Cincus Flag.
02/20/41 - Transferred from USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) to 14th Naval District for temp. duty.
06/16/41 - Received aboard USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) from 14th Naval District temp. duty completed.
06/17/41 - Transferred from USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) to USS Sabine (AO-25) for leave in US.
06/24/41 - Disembarked from USS Sabine (AO-25) at San Pedro, California on leave.
07/08/41 - Aboard USS Sepulga (AO-20) transferred to USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) for transportation and FFT leave status.
07/27/41 - Transferred from USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) to Naval Station Guam for duty.
From The Columbian (Vancouver, WA), May 30, 1997: Donald W. Barnum. Salem. Former Vancouver resident, Donald W. Barnum, 86, died in Salem Wednesday, May 28, 1997. Mr. Barnum was born March 13, 1911, in St. Maries, Idaho. After attending Navy intelligence school for a year, he served in Guam. He was taken prisoner of war on the first day of World War II and remained a prisoner for four years. He retired from the Navy as an lieutenant commander in 1958. Mr. Barnum was a member of several military organizations and was an amateur radio operator. He enjoyed gardening, sports and fishing. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Doris, at home; one son, Richard of Seattle; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. There will be a private service and burial.
Oregon Death Index, 1903-98 about Donald Warren Barnum. Name: Barnum, Donald Warren; County: Polk; Death Date: 28 May 1997; Certificate: 97-12196; Age: 86; Birth Date: 13 Mar 1911; Spouse: Doris
Social Security Death Index about Donald W. Barnum; Name: Donald W. Barnum; SSN: 540-46-7547; Last Residence: 97304 Salem, Polk, Oregon, United States of America; Born: 13 Mar 1911; Died: 28 May 1997; State (Year) SSN issued: Oregon (1956-1957) .
Gravestone inscription: Barnum, Donald W / LCDR US Navy / World War II / Date of Birth: 03/13/1911 / Date of Death: 05/28/1997
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
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