John Paul Barta slain by sniper

Flour Bluff High School graduate and former athlete John Paul Barta died Saturday while serving in Iraq, his family said Monday. He was 25.

Army officials informed Barta's family Sunday, Barta's mother said, adding the family knows little details of the circumstances surrounding his death.

"He had the biggest heart," his mother Laurie Barta said. "He loved to help people."

Barta graduated from Flour Bluff High School in 2000 before attending Wharton County Junior College. He enlisted in the Army two years ago and was stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen before being sent to Iraq in October.

Family friend Andrew Spencer described Barta as a likable guy.

"He had a lot of friends," he said. "(He was) mild-mannered, well-mannered, respectful."

While attending Flour Bluff High School, Barta excelled on the baseball and football fields.

Throughout his four-year athletic career, coaches and teammates in both sports recognized him as a go-to player who came through in the clutch.

He earned most valuable player honors at the Flour Bluff Invitational and All-Tournament honors at the Uvalde Kiwanis Tournament in the late 1990s.

He also was named to the Caller-Times All-Metro Baseball Team more than once.

Barta maintained an account on myspace.com while serving in Iraq. By late Monday, dozens of his acquaintances had posted tributes and memorials to the soldier.

"He was a good kid and a good man. No mother could ask for more," Laurie Barta said.

"All I know right now is I just have the biggest hole in my heart."

Other survivors include his brother, Billy Ray Barta; and his grandfather, Adolph Barta, both of Corpus Christi.

From the Caller Times