How appropriate to honor Rear Admiral Eugene A. Barham, 33°, in this "Masonic Heroes" special issue of the Scottish Rite Journal! Ill. Barham has not only served our nation as a distinguished military leader but also labored with outstanding success for Masonry throughout his life. The latter service was recognized in a formal manner on September 3, 1998, when the Orient of Louisiana’s third Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic was dedicated in Monroe, Louisiana, and named in his honor as the Admiral E. A. Barham Speech and Hearing Clinic. (See article in "Current Interest.")

Ill. Barham was born in Oak Ridge, Louisiana, on December 21, 1911, and throughout his life maintained a close tie to his native state as a farmer, cotton ginner, and investor. As a young man, he accepted an appointment from the fifth congressional district of Louisiana to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis and, after graduating with honors, was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy.

This was a first step in a distinguished naval career that included heroic service during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was serving as Engineering Officer of the U.S.S. Laffey (DD 459) on March 31, 1942, when it was sunk during the Battle of Guadalcanal. He made his way to Guadalcanal and was senior officer in the survivor camp of some 1,100 men. Then, as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Dashiell (DD 659), he participated in operations at Tarawa, Kwajalein, Saipan, Kavieng, Hollandia, and Guam.

Ordered back to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1944, he served in the Executive Department as one of six Battalion Officers, and in 1946 he received orders to the staff of Commander Operational Development Force as the Project Coordinator for the testing of new tactics and weapons. In 1948, he assumed command of the U.S.S. English (DD 696). At the onset of hostilities in Korea, he was ordered to Tokyo, Japan, to serve on the staff of the Commander Naval Forces Far East as officer in control of shipping in far eastern waters. In 1954 he assumed command of Destroyer Division 262, radar picket destroyers, deployed to the Mediterranean. His final command was of the Air Defense Training Center in Dam Neck, Virginia.

Admiral Barham’s decorations include Bronze Star with Combat V with a Gold Star in lieu of a second Bronze Star; a Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V; a Presidential Citation; the Presidential Ribbon; American Defense Service Medal with Fleet clasp; American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

Admiral Barham is also a dedicated Freemason. A member of Brookville Lodge No. 161 in Oak Ridge, Louisiana, he served three terms as Worshipful Master (1974, ’75, ’77) and was invested a 32° Scottish Rite Mason in 1973, Valley of Monroe, Louisiana, where he served as Senior Warden, Lodge of Perfection. Later, he was elected to receive the honors of K.C.C.H. and 33° for his many services, to our Order and America. Admiral Barham was also active in the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, serving as a member and then chairman of the Grand Lodge’s Budget and Control Board and as Grand Marshal in 1977 and 1981.

Recognizing his service to our Craft and America, we are pleased to salute Ill. Bro. and Admiral Eugene A. Barham, 33°, as a true Masonic hero and great American!