MARINE CORPS LEADS TO LIFE OF ADVENTURES

    Walt and Georgia Barr of Eden are well-known for their fun-loving personalities and their love towards each other. Upon meeting them however, you may not know of their military background. In honor of Veterans Day earlier this week, the couple shared the story of their worldly travels. 
    Born and raised in Boston, Walt knew at an early age that he wanted to join the Marine Corps. So in September of 1959 he enlisted. He finished his four months of basic training in Parris Island, South Carolina. He was then transferred to Camp Lejeune, in Jacksonville, North Carolina. While stationed there, he was deployed on a six month Mediterranean cruise and a three month Caribbean cruise. After completion of these tours he was assigned to Marine Security Guard School in Arlington, Virginia. After successful completion of school he was assigned to the American Embassy in LaPaz Bolivia.  It was then that he met his future wife, Georgia Pitzl. 
    Georgia had been working in Mobridge for the Army Corps of Engineers and had always told her folks that she wanted to “travel the world and see it all.” Upon completion of the Oahe Dam Project, she applied for employment to the Department of State in Washington DC. After six months of training in DC, she was assigned to the American Embassy in La Paz Bolivia. 
    Walt remembers one of their first dates in Bolivia. “Georgia always talked about how she loved to eat lobster,” he tells. “So I found this restaurant that was going to serve lobster one night. We sat down and I noticed the price of the lobster and remembered that pay day wasn’t until next week, so I ordered the salad and let Georgia order the lobster.” Georgia replied with a smile, “That’s how I knew he was the one.” 
    Once married, Walt and Georgia started their life together as a Marine Corps Family. Their first assignment as a couple was at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. After two years he was reassigned as a Marine Recruiter in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In the fall of 1967, Walt was reassigned to serve in Vietnam. Knowing that he would serve “12 months and 20 days,” Georgia decided to move to Aberdeen with their then two small children to be closer to her family in Eden. 
    When asked if they could speak on the phone, both laughed and said, “There was no telephone communication, letter writing only.” Georgia remembers a time when six weeks had passed with no letter from Walt. One day, a letter came, with the return address stating “The Red Cross.” It turned out Walt had been wounded during battle and was transferred to the hospital ship U.S.S. Repose. 
    Walt remembers the battle clearly. He and his group were on their nightly patrol when they heard a “snap snap snap” that sounded a lot like fireworks. After climbing up the hill, they were littered with heavy gun fire. Over half of their troop was killed. However, Walt survived and was medevac’d to the triage ship. During his time in Vietnam, Walt earned two Purple Hearts. 
    Finally, once his time in Vietnam was up, the family moved back home to Sioux Falls where Walt worked as a Marine Recruiter and the couple was blessed with their third child. Walt’s next orders came, sending him to Okinawa Japan for 13 months. Georgia again moved closer to home to be nearer to her family and to have help with the children. 
    Their next move was one of their favorites. San Jose, Costa Rica was on the docket where Walt would be stationed as the Non Commissioned Officer In Charge of the Marine Security Guard detachment. Georgia remembers the children loving their new home in San Jose and getting a wonderful education there, as the schools were top notch. 
    Their final set of orders would land them in New Orleans, a place that the couple really enjoyed, mainly because of the wonderful cuisine. After 22 years in the Marines, Walt retired and took a job at the local post office in the Big Easy for the next 23 years. 
    Their children all graduated from Louisiana State University. Two of them live in Colorado and one now resides in New York. None of their children followed in the footsteps of a Marine, but they all three agree, that they lived a fun and fulfilling life in the midst of Walt’s military career. Georgia never remembers the children being upset about having to move so often as they really enjoyed the lifestyle.
    In 2008, Walt and Georgia decided to make Eden, South Dakota their permanent address. Their cute green house is a staple in the community, always decorated for every holiday and always welcoming a visitor for a chat and coffee. Walt looks back on his career in the Marine Corp as a meaningful time and would do it all over again if called to serve.