Former Saltville resident dies in Iraq

Former Saltville resident dies during third tour in Iraq

By DON SIMMONS JR./Correspondent

Chad Barrett grew up singing in the choir at Davy Crockett High School in Jonesborough, Tenn. He died Saturday serving his country in Iraq.
Army officials believe Staff Sgt. Chad Allen Barrett died of heart failure in a non-hostile incident in his room in Mosul, Iraq. He was about three weeks into his third tour-of-duty in Iraq, according his mother, Linda Helton of Gray, Tenn.
During his first 12-month tour, Barrett worked the graveyard shift manning the radio for his company, said Helton. He moved up to sergeant during his second tour in which he worked in the supply chain bringing needed fuel to combat troops. He was recently promoted to staff sergeant, she said. He served as a petroleum supply specialist with the 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson in Colorado.
On his second tour, she said, his unit was hit 42 times, and Barrett developed health problems stemming from the attacks. On his third tour, Barrett was confined to his base while his health improved, Helton said.
“He wanted to go to Iraq, but he went later than his unit, and I’m sure he was trying to play catch up and adjust to everything, because he was worried about his unit,“ she said. “He stayed in touch, and we knew he was under stress.“
Barrett and his wife, Michelle, were married for almost nine years. His sons, Guston, 13, and Zachary, 12, live in Saltville with his former wife, Cindy Ward, a Saltville native.
“He loved them boys and loved to be in the outdoors,” said his former brother-in-law Sgt. J.C. Robinson of the Saltville Police Department. Robinson was in high school when Barrett married his sister. “We went hunting and fishing together and even whitewater rafting.”
That love of the outdoors came early. He used to go boating, fishing and camping with his father, Ronnie, and his stepfather, Randy Hilbert.
“The whole family went camping in the mountains and the beach. Roane Mountain Park was a favorite spot,” said Helton
Barrett joined the Army in 1996. His mother said that decision was inspired by his deep admiration for his grandfather, uncles and cousins, all of whom served in the military.
“His grandfather earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star in Germany during World War II,” said Helton. “‘He played army all his life,’ we liked to say.”
Barrett was a big UT [University of Tennessee] fan and kept a collection of Vols memorabilia in his home office, said his mom. He also loved racing and grew up around it all the time. Helton still works as a section manager in Turn 2 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“He was a good old country boy who never met a stranger,” said Helton.
“In school he was a joker and prankster who knew how to snow his teachers,” she laughed. “He loved anything to do with the outside. Most of his old buddies joined the service too.”
Barrett was always a music fan and was always working on car stereo systems, said Robinson. His mother said he and his Army buddies loved going to Karaoke bars to sing and cut up. Rascal Flats was his latest favorite group. Lately he focused a lot on becoming an expert marksman and learning all the military’s weaponry and how it worked. He liked riding motorcycles, too, a hobby that grew from his relationship with his stepdad, who owns two Harley-Davidsons. Barrett had recently purchased and sold his first Harley, she added.
“Chad also loved the men he led and always tried to remember what life as a private was like,” said Helton. “He was good at making everyone feel comfortable.”
Barrett will have a full military funeral service in Jonesborough. The date will not be set until the Army makes a final determination on his cause of death. He earned many awards during his service, including two Army Commendation medals, three Achievement medals, three Good Conduct medals, a National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge.
Most of his extended family – his father, Ronnie, and stepmother, Donna; stepfather, Randy Hilbert, and stepsister, Debi Cutlip—live in the Jonesborough area. His brother, Gary, lives in Nevada and his stepbrother, Josh Hilbert, lives in Hendersonville, N.C.
While it remains unknown what led to Barrett’s heart failure, no veteran would be surprised if stress were found to have played a role. Soldiers become intimately familiar with the anxiety that goes along with not only combat but also the long separation from family.
Francis Marion VFW Post 4667 Commander Turk Johnson retired with 23 years in the Air Force, serving part of those years in Korea and Vietnam in the 1960s and as a trainer at Lackland Air Force Base.
In talking Tuesday about soldiers’ lives, and his own, in the war zone, Johnson several times mentioned concerns about families and the longing to rejoin them.
Not once did he mention his own or others’ fear for their own safety. That, he said, is outweighed by thoughts of home.
No one doubted Barrett’s courage. “… He was such a brave person, and I just want him to be honored,“ said his mother.
Rex Bowman, Media General News Service, and Dan Kegley contributed.