The smile. Whichever role he fulfilled in our lives, we remember William Barry Kerr’s smile as one of the greatest of all time. Son of Bill and Betty Kerr, Barry grew up with his sister Barbara in Broomall, PA. Blessed with parents who taught him about being a good person, his coach’s endorsement of Barry’s application for nomination to West Point stated: "Barry Kerr more than fits the description of ‘ideal’...with parental guidance conducive to the type of teenager desirable in our present day and age."
He began swimming at the age of 7 and was an age-group champion by 9. Some athletes are blessed with natural ability while others are driven by an intense work ethic. The really great ones have both. Barry competed for a berth on the 1964 Olympic team and the Army swim coach recognized Barry’s potential to be a collegiate swim star, as well as a leader of men, and was thrilled when Barry accepted an appointment to West Point.
Barry’s years at West Point were thus distinguished by accomplishments in the classroom and the pool. According to one of his roommates, "He was smart, managed his time well...and did not get behind on papers or often stay up late studying." His excellent sense of humor enabled him to cope with many of the "peculiarities" associated with life in the Corps.
During four years on the swim team, Barry set numerous Academy records and was the team captain his firstie year. Most notably, he earned the total respect and admiration of his teammates and coaches. Versatile enough to be an All-American in the individual medley, Barry was selfless enough to swim back to back races for his team. As noted by one of his teammates, "Barry was a leader without trying. People followed him naturally; no word was needed."
Possessing a strong but subdued faith, Barry taught Sunday school. A roommate observed that, "He had a peace about him that was uncanny; he could come back from class and catch some quick sleep before lunch formation." His empathy for others was evident in the compassionate professionalism with which he dealt with the plebes.
Selecting Infantry upon graduation, Barry became a legend in his Ranger class. One cold night in Florida, a ranger dropped his rifle during a river crossing. The instructor called an administrative halt and launched into a tirade. Meanwhile, Barry began diving into the murky water, searching for the lost weapon. After several attempts, covered in muck, Barry emerged with the rifle. One of his West Point roommates, shivering uncontrollably while sitting on the bank, remembers it "as heroic at the very minimum" and "with pride that my roomy saved the day...or maybe the week, or maybe the entire Florida phase!"
After an assignment with the 82d Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, Barry spent two tours as an advisor to a Vietnamese Ranger battalion. He was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star. Barry was the antithesis of the ugly American and became enamored with the Vietnamese people. Inordinately generous with his time as well as his resources, Barry was an unquestioned "numbah one" to his soldiers and their families.
Back in the States, Barry was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group at Ft. Bragg. He was the honor graduate of the SF Underwater Operations course and continued to act as an unofficial American ambassador of good will. He was particularly helpful to Allied officers from the Far East, steering them to the Asian restaurants of their choice and including them at any party he hosted.
After completing several pre-med classes at Duke University during his Ft. Bragg assignment, Barry was accepted to the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1975. During the next three years, Barry completed the requirements for the degree of doctor of osteopathy. He loved Philadelphia, living close to where he grew up with opportunities to enjoy numerous cultural events. His enormously proud parents watched Barry receive his degree in July of 1979.
Having agreed to return to active duty after graduation, Barry was assigned to Tripler Army Medical Center in 1979 for his internship. He quickly decided that Oahu was his new home. When Barry wasn’t working, he was enjoying everything the island had to offer: swimming in the Pacific, playing tennis, and running through the Aiea Heights Nature Park.
He completed his internship in 1980 and his residency in 1984 and developed quite a reputation at the hospital, both in and out of the operating room. Besides becoming a gifted and imaginative surgeon, he was known throughout the hospital as the doc with the Ranger tab, jump wings, CIB, and a regulation haircut. Sadly, he had to leave his island paradise for an assignment in Germany. Sadder yet, Barry developed health problems that eventually led to a medical retirement at the rank of major in 1986.
Returning to his beloved Hawaii, Barry started a business to evaluate worker compensation claims. Establishing a reputation of being fast and impartial, insurers as well as claimants sought his services. He found it quite humorous that both parties thought he was "on our side."
Barry continued to enjoy life in the islands, hosting friends for meals and attending concerts featuring local musicians. He was born with the aloha spirit, and his immersion into the Hawaiian culture made him a kama’aina, an adopted son of the islands.
A brain tumor hospitalized Barry in late January of 1991, and he died on Valentine’s Day. His final resting place on earth is in the Punchbowl. Shaded by the spread of a beautiful banyan tree, from Barry’s gravesite one can look out over Honolulu, across Diamond Head, and catch glimpses of the Pacific. He couldn’t have picked a more appropriate spot.
We miss you, Barry. Your family, friends, and classmates were all blessed by your part in our lives. You were a kind, generous person with an amazing capacity to make those around you feel good. Enormously talented, you used your gifts to make your corner of the world a better place. We know that you are smiling down on us, and that helps us through the sadness.
Aloha, Barry.
Family, friends, and classmates