Sonny's Story

Sonny Barrington Ollie E Barrington 101st airborne paratrooper WWII

Sonny Barrington - abt 1941

Sonny's Background

I never met my uncle. Nor did my siblings and cousins because he died before we were born. My sister Judy was the only niece he ever met but she was too young to remember him. Sonny’s picture hung in the hallway of the house where I grew up. The picture was just outside my bedroom door and I looked at it everyday. He was very handsome and my friends always told me he looked like a movie star!

Sonny was the second out of five kids. His name was Ollie Ernest Barrington, Jr but he was called Sonny. Sonny, Kathleen, Marie, May Jeanne (my Mom) and Billy Ray were young during the Great Depression and went through a rough time. The older kids worked in the cotton fields and for a while the family had move in with relatives who lived on a farm. During the depression many people could not afford housing and food. Living on a farm afforded people to be able to grow their own food. When the family moved to Huntsville, Texas, my grandmother took in boarders from the nearby university as a way to make extra money. My grandfather was a foreman on the pipeline and was often away on jobs. My Aunt Re said that Sonny was like a father figure to her and they all looked up to him. He helped his Mom with chores and taking care of the younger ones when his father was gone. His older sister, Kathleen, was also very helpful. She would often sew clothes for her little sisters and help take care of them. When my Uncle Billy Ray was born, Sonny was very happy to get a baby brother! Sonny put Billy Ray’s picture in his helmet on his very first parachute jump. Sonny quit school early and went on jobs with his Dad working on the pipeline in different parts of the country. He was athletic and won many blue ribbons at the county meets, especially running races. He had girlfriends but the love of his life was Lorita Lewis. His heart was broken when she married another guy.

Sonny volunteered for the paratroopers on August 3, 1942 and traveled by train to Fort Sam Houston. He was sent to Camp Toccoa in Georgia a few days later for 13 weeks of basic training. Training for the paratroopers was the toughest training the in the military. His time was filled with long days of intense physical training. The program was designed to seperate the weak from the strong in an effort to guarantee that only the best made it into battle with the Airborne. In November, he was sent to Fort Benning in Georgia for four weeks of parachute school. Christmas of ’42 the paratroopers were granted furlough and Sonny went back to Texas to visit his family. His diary reads - "Started on my furlough today and caught a bus from Columbus to Birmingam, Alabama. Caught a train to New Orleans and had to stand up most of the way. Had to lay over eight hours in New Orleans. Arrived in Houston about 10 o'clock. Walked in and surprised the family about one o'clock." I'm not sure how long he stayed because the next diary entry wasn't until February 6, 1943. When parachute training was complete, his unit was moved to Camp Mackall, NC. It was here that extensive tactical training was conducted, including many night jumps. In June 1943, the 506th was attached to the 101st Airborne. Later that month the regiment was moved to participate in the Tennessee maneuvers. In July 1943, Sonny went home for the last time. He caught a bus then hitched a ride to Jasper, TX to see his Dad who was there on a job. After spending two days with his Dad, he went to Houston to see his Mama and the rest of the family. On July 23, 1943, he went to the Plantation with Kat, Dot, Cecil, Garland, Richard, Polly, Cob, Zoe, Marie, May Jeanne, and Bill. I have included a picture of them sitting at a large table with bottles of liquor “hidden” under the table. He was home for just one week and when he left, it was very hard on the family. The 506th moved to Fort Bragg, NC until the end of August 1943 when the unit reported to Camp Shanks, NY to prepare to be transported overseas. On September 4, 1943, his diary reads “boarded the boat tonight and stayed in the harbor.” On September 5, "Left NY harbor today and the U.S.A. for parts unknown." The 506th crossed the Atlantic on the S.S. Samaria arriving in Liverpool, England on September 15, 1943. Conditions were not that great. In his diary he said they slept on the deck one night and in the hole the next. “We eat two meals a day that aren’t worth a damn." The ship was supposed to hold 1,000 passengers but there were 5,000 soldiers aboard. While on the ship he lost his bag which contained his diary. On November 2nd, his bag was returned and he continued with his diary. By now, he was in Aldbourne, England.

Carrie Elizabeth Barrington and Sonny in 1921

Carrie Barrington & Sonny abt 1924

Sonny Boy

Carrie Barrington "Big Mom" and Sonny with his sailor cap

Sonny

Sonny, May Jeanne, and Kathleen Barrington abt 1924

Sonny, Kathleen & May Jeanne Barrington abt 1925. The girls with their dolls and it looks like Sonny has his stick!

Sonny Boy about age 10

Sonny with his rifle and boots. Uncle Bill has his rifle.

Sonny in the vegetable garden - pre-parartrooper muscles!

Sonny Barrington and a couple of his friends.

Sonny and his dog Bruno at the house on Gulf Bank Rd. Aunt Re said he was always making faces!

Sonny and his buddy Joe

Sonny with his father, a friend, and Ray Cubstead. Ray was his first cousin, Ida's son. I not sure if this was when he came home in December 1942 or July 1943.

Party at the Plantation, 1943 - Unk, Unk, Sonny Barrington, Marie Barrington Roach, Richard Roach, Kathleen Barrington Morris, Billie Morris, Unk, Unk, Garland Slaughter, May Jeanne Barrington Slaughter, Zoe