July 4, 2020

GREENVILLE — Members of Greenville Lodge No. 107 A.F. & A.M., recently presented Bro. Truman Barks of Clubb with gifts and mementos from the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight organization. Barks was visited by W.B. Allen Brooks (Worshipful Master), W.B. Terance Baker (Past Master) and R.W.B. Ted Marlow (Past Master)...

Members of Greenville Lodge No. 107 A.F. & A.M., recently presented Bro. Truman Barks of Clubb with gifts and mementos from the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight organization. Barks (seated) was visited by (clockwise) W.B. Allen Brooks (Worshipful Master), W.B. Terance Baker (Past Master) and R.W.B. Ted Marlow (Past Master).
Members of Greenville Lodge No. 107 A.F. & A.M., recently presented Bro. Truman Barks of Clubb with gifts and mementos from the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight organization. Barks (seated) was visited by (clockwise) W.B. Allen Brooks (Worshipful Master), W.B. Terance Baker (Past Master) and R.W.B. Ted Marlow (Past Master).Photo provided

GREENVILLE — Members of Greenville Lodge No. 107 A.F. & A.M., recently presented Bro. Truman Barks of Clubb with gifts and mementos from the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight organization. Barks was visited by W.B. Allen Brooks (Worshipful Master), W.B. Terance Baker (Past Master) and R.W.B. Ted Marlow (Past Master).

Barks was scheduled to be a part of the honor flight this summer, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was canceled, according to a press release from Greenville Lodge members.

The mission of Greater St. Louis Honor Flight is to recognize United States veterans – most urgently the World War II veterans – with a day of honor, remembrance and celebration. They do this with a one-day, all-expenses paid trip to Washington, DC to visit the World War II Memorial, built to honor their service and sacrifice.

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Truman Barks enlisted with the U.S. Navy in May 1944 and trained at Great Lakes, Illinois. He was assigned to Little Creek, Virginia, and spent service time in New York. He served on landing craft. He was discharged in May 1946 with the rank of SC2 cook.

A memorable experience for Barks happened on Easter Sunday morning in 1945. He landed at Okinawa, Japan to deliver tanks with U.S. Marines.

He received the Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and three Philippine Campaign Medals during his service.

Barks was born Feb. 6, 1925, near Greenville, the oldest child of Clarence and Ollie (Clayton) Barks. He is a 1943 graduate of Greenville High School, and was honored by the Greenville Alumni Association in 2018 on 75 years of service.

On March 20, 1958, Barks was initiated into Greenville Lodge No. 107 A.F. & A.M., having come recommended by the late W.B. J.L. McLane and the late W.B. Paul Mince. He is a 62-year member and at age 95, the oldest.

In the community, he operated Barks Pallet Mill and trucking from 1966 to 2005, and has been generous for many years to many charitable organizations and events, club members report.

Truman married the former Gladys Ruble and they have four children, Rick, Rae Jean, Teresa and Randy. The couple have nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

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