Longtime Claremont resident John Barrett was just 18-years-old when he was drafted into the United States Army, first Calvary Division in February of 1943 and sent into combat during World War II. A year later he was part of the invasion of Manila, Philippines and the liberation of the Santo Tomas University where American citizens were being held. Years later he met Gertrude Feely through Claremont Methodist church and learned that she was one of the people at Santo Tomas he had help to free from the Japanese. More about Mr. Barrett’s story can be read in our next edition. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff