Cpl Norman J. Barnes
208th Antiaircraft Artillery Group (208th AA GP)
211th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, U.S. Army

Background
Norman J. Barnes was born November 14, 1915 in Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated high school and worked as an insurance clerk. On March 31, 1941 enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private with serial number 31043578. He was assigned to the 208th Antiaircraft Artillery Group (208th AA GP) headquarters and underwent training at Camp Edwards at Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Wartime History
At the start of the Pacific War, in January 1942 sent by train to San Francisco embarked aboard troop transport Matsonia then across the Pacific to Australia arriving at Brisbane on March 8, 1942. Six days later, they boarded a train at Ascot Station and March 18, 1942 arrive at Townsville.

On May 15, 1943, the 208th AA GP was reorganized and was assigned to Battery C, 211th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (211th CA (AA)(AW). In June 1943 embarked aboard a ship for the voyage to Port Moresby in New Guinea and provided anti-aircraft defense at airfields in South West Pacific Area (SWPA). In the tropics, he contracted malaria and dengue fever and returned to the United States in late 1944. On August 20, 1945 he was honorable discharged from the U.S. Army with the rank of Corporal with four battle stars for the campaigns of Papua, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago and East Indies. His unit earned the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).

Photos by Norman J. Barnes circa late 1943


Postwar
After World War II, Barnes suffered from the effects of malaria and dengue fever but never collected any medical benefits. On May 7, 1949 he married his girlfriend from Philadelphia.

Memorials
Barnes passed away December 10, 1983 at age 68. He is buried at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield, PA.

Relatives
Paul Barnes (son)

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Norman J. Barnes
FindAGrave - Norman J Barnes (grave photo)
Oz@War - 208th Coast Artillery (AA) Regiment, US Army Townsville, QLD During WWII
Thanks to Paul Barnes for additional information

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