Portrait of John Henry Barratt, Jr.
Born October 29, 1925 in Gloucester
Rank: Electrician's Mate 2nd Class. Service: US Navy. Division/Ship: USS LSM 217. Theater: Pacific, Philippines. Dates of Service: 1943 - 1946, Korean War. Specific Battles: Invasion of Luzon

Kamikazes and mines were just things that had to be contended with aboard the USS LSM-217 on which John Barratt served. The electrician's mate and his crew-members fought the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf and Battle of Luzon operations in the Philippines. The landing ship was responsible for troops, tanks, and supplies to ground forces. Barratt joined up in 1943 and served until 1946. Following the surrender of the Japanese, he made a couple of trips to Tokyo. From Yokohama to Tokyo "just nothing but destruction." He passed twice through the Panama Canal. Returning home, he got a job at Gorton's where he'd worked while in high school. In 1948 he took a job with the US Postal Service from which he retired in 1980. 1948 was also the year he met his wife Sylvia Knight. They married in 1951 and were together for 59 years. At 33, Barratt began to pursue his passion for music, specifically jazz. At ten he'd wanted to play the saxophone, but his dad had lost his job and there was no extra money for lessons. Instead of the sax, he took up drumming and played with various jazz groups on the North Shore.