|
| It all began back in the Second World War when Luther Barndt, of 511 Diamond Street, Sellersville, served as a U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class. He was stationed at Bougainnville, north of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific. |  Zane Cross in Dress Uniform with his wife -photo courtesy of Zane Cross |
Luther Barndt Coin Backview Zane Cross Photo Barndt had been issued a commemorative deployment medal by Firestone Tire Company before going overseas. This coin has on one side the words “Good Luck and Happy Return” along with an eagle and a V. The other side has the words “Presented to Luther T. Barndt With Every Good Wish, Firestone 1943.”
In December 2019, Perkasie Historical Society received an interesting email that intrigued Louise Doll, society vice president, and her husband Rick, museum co-curator.
The email was sent by Zane Cross, a Petty Officer in the Royal Australian Navy who stated that in 2003 he was deployed to the Solomon Islands, known as Guadalcanal in WWII.
Cross explained, “Whilst in the mountains I came across a village that time had forgotten. While there, I bartered for the coin that I thought would be of significant value to the family of its owner. I knew nothing of its origin and no way of contacting its owner.”
He added, “Through the wonders of the Internet and technology, I have found its rightful owner. The coin has traveled with me on every deployment I have been on including the whole of southeast Asia, Iraq, back to the Solomons and many other places. It has kept me safe, and I would love to send it to your museum to the locate the family of its owner. All I ask it that you send pictures of the presentation to the family, and I would love to hear what sort of man Luther was. It has been a great honor to have this in my possession.”
Upon receiving the interesting email, Louise Doll did some research and found that the Barndt family had donated Luther Barndt’s Navy uniform to the museum a few years ago. In the old News-Herald archives, she found Barndt’s obituary—he died March 26, 1985. Doll reached out to Luther’s daughter, Jeanne Parker, who ironically was a former vice president of the Perkasie Historical Society herself.
Doll emailed the information and a picture of Luther to Zane Cross and promised to return the coin to the Barndt. In 2020, Cross emailed more information about his story of finding the coin.
Cross noted he was deployed to the Solomons in 2003 as part of a weapons amnesty and to provide security in the region after a coup. He said he was in the little village of Mbelaha where there was an array of WWII artifacts on display, and he spotted the coin with Barndt’s name on it.
“I couldn’t help but wonder if this man was still alive and is he had a family,” added Cross, who said he traded a t-shirt for the coin. He was told it was found near an airport runway soon after the war had ended.
Then the Covid pandemic hit, and the world temporarily stopped. The society didn’t hear anything from Cross even after repeated emails from Rick Doll and Barndt’s granddaughter Lori Parker. They feared that something happened to Cross during the pandemic.
Then the Covid pandemic hit, and the world temporarily stopped. The society didn’t hear anything from Cross even after repeated emails from Rick Doll and Barndt’s granddaughter Lori Parker. They feared that something happened to Cross during the pandemic.
Surprisingly, out of the blue this past April, Lori Parker received an email from Cross stating he was well and would be sending the coin to the historical society. Finally, on August 30, the package containing the coin along with many treats and souvenirs Cross sent from Australia arrived at the Doll’s house.
Presenting the Coin to Luther Barndt's Family From Right to left: Matt Lynch Perkasie Historical Society co-curator, Jean Parker, Lori Parker (Luther Barndt's grand-daughter) ,Barbara Barndt Boughter, and Rick Doll Perkasie Historical Society co-curator Perkasie Historical Society- Louise Doll image
Three days later, the coin was presented to Luther Barndt’s daughters, Jeanne Parker, and Barbara Barndt Boughter, along with granddaughter Lori Parker, at the museum. They were standing next to a museum mannequin dressed in Luther Barndt’s Navy uniform for the momentous occasion.
Zane Cross was sent a photo and video of the event and in a reply email thanked everyone for their help and patience.
He continued, “This has been an incredible experience for me. I have traveled the world with Luther’s coin. From third world countries recovering from natural disasters to war torn nations, his coin has kept me safe and returned me to my young family.
“The world is a complete unknown at the moment and to have completed this final mission fills my heart with pride and my eyes with tears of joy.
Luther Barndt died at age 70 in 1985. He was married to Adele Sterner Barndt, and had two daughters and four grandchildren. Barndt was an engineer for PennDOT.
We were fortunate and grateful to WFMZ for their coverage of Luther T. Barndt's coin bring returned to the family. The WFMZ News Segment by Amy Unger and Jenny McCain and Frank Whelan's History Headlines about Luther Barndt's WWII coin returned to his family.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply.
Memories of Perkasie
Sharing interesting connections between Perkasie's people, places and events.
Rick and Louise Doll
Navigation Hint: The postings can be viewed by date, by topic category, or in reverse chronological order (most recent posting first)
RSS Feed