By Judy Christie

Lt. Cmdr. Clyde Cassius “Cash” Barber, USN (Ret), celebrated his 101st birthday in May doing what he has done weekly for 10 years: sitting near a PBY Catalina at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla., and talking about life as a flight engineer in World War II and his 30 years of military service.

“It’s very important to me to tell stories,” said Barber, a MOAA Life Member. “Unfortunately, we haven’t told the stories enough — about the history that is so important.”

His story is especially historic.

Barber, fresh out of 14 weeks of aviation machinist’s mate training, was headed to Hawaii by ship when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, putting him in the midst of world history and providing a look at devastation he will never forget. His dramatic personal stories — which he also compiled in Fly Navy with Cash Barber, 1941-1971, a collection of memories, historical documents, and pictures — reverberate as the world marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2025 and with less than 1% of Americans who served in the war still living.

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Honored with a community birthday party at the museum, Barber, who also served in Vietnam, settled again by “the plane I’m so proud of.”

“It was a great seaplane; our missions were search and rescue. Any time there would be a bombing, a pilot would say, ‘I’ve been hit. I’m going down.’ We’d be right there with them. Being Johnny-on-the-spot, we saved a lot of crews.”

Rear Adm. Kyle J. Cozad, USN (Ret), president and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, said Barber chose a higher calling to serve his nation and is a blessing to the naval aviation family.

“Cash has volunteered his time for the last decade and epitomizes what I consider most compelling about our museum,” Cozad said. “Our 150 meticulously restored aircraft are impressive in themselves, but it’s really the people who brought those aircraft to life that tell the story of naval aviation.”

That story started for Barber when his parents signed for him to go into the Navy at age 17.

“I was an old farm boy in Colorado,” Barber said. “I made up my mind that since Navy aviation was open, that’s where I wanted to go.”

He was sworn in May 24, 1941, and traveled by train from Denver to San Diego for recruit training.

He and his late wife, Eileen, met while he was on leave from boot camp and were married 78 years.

“I fell in love at first sight,” he said. “I was in my sailor suit. She wanted to marry a sailor and see the world, so everything worked out right.”

Barber thanks God for each day. “Most of us joined the military for a reason, to protect our freedom. … I enjoyed my 30 years,” he said. “Fortunately, the Good Lord was with me, and I made it through.”

— Judy Christie is a writer based in Colorado.