St. Bonaventure alumnus inducted into New York State Veterans Hall of Fame

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

By Kait Laubscher ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Col. John F. Barry, a 1968 St. Bonaventure University graduate, joined the ranks of the New York Senate Veterans Hall of Fame inductees in 2011. Sen. Dean Skelos, the state senate majority leader, chose Barry to be inducted into the hall of fame for both his commendable military service and his continuing service to his community. “Col. Barry has an exemplary military record and has demonstrated a true and unwavering commitment to his country. Col. Barry exemplifies everything that the Veterans Hall of Fame was intended to honor and I thank him for all that he’s done for our country,” Sen. Skelos said in a press release, according to the Long Island Herald. Barry was recognized for his service in the First Cavalry Division of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War following his education at St. Bonaventure in the ROTC program, which he said helped him significantly in preparing for his military career. He remained in the Army Reserves after two years of active duty. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place June 14, 2011, at the Legislative Office Building in Albany. “I was very honored and very humbled,” Barry said of his induction. In addition to Barry, 64 other veterans were recognized in the ceremony, which, he said, was very humbling in itself. “I didn’t realize the impact of the induction at first. There were veterans ranging from the Normandy invasion to a young man who just returned home,” Barry said. Barry’s military career concluded in 2000 when he retired from the Army Reserves. He has continued to be an active member of the American Legion, the Association of the United States Army and the Reserve Officers Association. Since his retirement in 2002 from his civilian job as Chief Deputy Director at the Nassau County Probation Department, Barry said he has maintained a business career. Barry has received many honors during his time of service, including the Legion of Merit, Combat Infantry Range, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the National Defense Service medal with Service Star Vietnam Service Medal, with two Service Stars. He has also been awarded the Armed Force Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal, Valorous Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Vietnam Civil Action Medal.