Robert A. Baribeau

Sergeant Major Robert Andrew Baribeau, USMC (Ret.), 71, of 630 Savoy Road, Cheshire, died Friday morning at his home. He was born in Adams on January 28, 1935, a son of the late Leo and Rose (St. Germain) Baribeau. He attended Notre Dame Elementary School, Adams, and graduated from Drury High School in North Adams. Sgt. Major Baribeau enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1952.He served with the First Marine Division, H Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, in Korea from 1953 until 1955, and was promoted to corporal in 1954. He returned from Korea in 1955, and became a member of the 42nd Rifle Co. of the Organized Marine Corps Reserve. He then attended Coyne Electrical and Technical School in Boston, and became a Licensed Electrician. He worked as a commercial, industrial and domestic electrician for several years. He was promoted to sergeant in 1960, and returned to Active Duty in 1964. He became Staff Sergeant in 1965, and was ordered to Vietnam with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. He earned a Bronze Star Medal with combat "V" for valor for leading Marine troops through enemy tunnel-clearing missions in Vietnam. He was presented with this medal at a ceremony at the Adams Free Library on September 5, 2001, 35 years after being recommended for the award, but not receiving it initially He returned to the United States in 1966, and was assigned to Engineer School at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1966, and was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1967. He returned to Vietnam in 1968, and served as company commander of Headquarters and Service Company, Co. A and Co. D, of 1st Battalion, 27th Marines. During this second tour of duty in Vietnam, he received another Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for valor. He returned to Hawaii in 1968 and remained with his unit until June of 1969, when he was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Naval Weapons Station in Concord, California. He was promoted to Captain in 1969, and served as a guard officer until he was reverted to Master Sergeant in 1971. He then served in Okinawa, Japan, until 1972, when he assigned to Camp Pendleton, California. He served in Kenitra, Morocco in 1975 as first sergeant of the 2nd Guard Company. In September 1976, hr served as Sergeant Major of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314. He was assigned Inspector Instructor Sergeant Major of 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, and became sergeant Major of Marine Corps development and Education Command in Quantico, VA in1983. On June 30, 1988, he assumed duties as Sergeant Major of Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, where he was senior advisor to the commanding General for personnel management of 44,000 Marines and sailors located on the entire eastern seaboard, all of Europe, Iceland, South America and the Carribean Islands. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1991, and went to work as general manager for Environmental Auto Removal Corp. in Chicago. In 1993, he became an Instructor of the Marine Corps Junior ROTC at Buena Vista High School, Saginaw, Michigan, until returning to Adams and Cheshire in 1995. He then worked part-time as an electrician for Duda & Holland Construction in Adams. He was a communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Cheshire, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and Acolyte. He was a member of the American Legion in Boston. He is survived by his wife, the former Sydney G. Reid, whom he married on December 30, 1994; 3 Daughters - Nicole Baribeau- Ooi and her husband, Adrian, of Brunswick, Georgia; Beth Armstrong and her husband, Peter, of Adams; and Loria Butterfield and her husband, Michael Campbell, of Sunderland, MA; 1 Brother - Leo Baribeau and his wife, Lucille, of Palm Harbor, Florida; 1 Sister - Helen Hamelin and her husband, Harvey, of Adams; 4 Grandchildren - Ashley McLear of Pittsfield, MA, Kristine McLear of Adams; Christopher Butterfield, stationed with the Army National Guard in Iraq; and David Butterfield of South Dakota; and several nieces & nephews. The funeral will be held on Thursday, May 18th, at 10:30 AM from the AUGE-PACIOREK-SIMMONS Funeral Home, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:OO AM in St. Mary of the Assumption Church, celebrated by Rev. David Raymond, Pastor. Burial will follow in Maple Street Cemetery, Adams. Calling hours are Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the funeral home. In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Adams Ambulance Service, the Eileen Barrett Foundation, or St. Mary of the Assumption Church through the funeral home.

Robert A. Baribeau

January 28, 1935 - May 12, 2006