John Paul Barta laid to rest

In a moment of anguish, Daniel Baker stared at the church ceiling and addressed his old friend.

"You have to help me through this," he said, his voice cracking and his face flushed.

Even in his death, those who knew John Paul Barta sought out his comfort. Family, friends and Flour Bluff community members Wednesday filled every pew at First Baptist Church on Ocean Drive to say goodbye to the 25-year-old Army specialist and 2000 Flour Bluff High School graduate killed last month in Iraq.

Baker, who played baseball with Barta, described how competitive they were with each other while playing on the squad.

"I ended up being second best," he said.

Most of Baker's testimonial drew laughter and smiles from those in attendance. By the end, however, Baker struggled with his words as audience members wept with him.

"I never cried much in my life, but he's been there for every one of them," he said.

Barta died from wounds suffered in a Dec. 23 mortar attack in the Iraqi city of Buhriz, about 30 miles north of Baghdad. He had been stationed at Fort Hood and was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

Military officials informed family members of his death Dec. 24.

Barta is the 19th Coastal Bend service member killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2003.

Friends and community members responded Monday with a candlelight vigil at the Flour Bluff baseball field.

"He was the best player on the baseball team, but he didn't act like it," friend Noe Vela said Wednesday. "He was a great athlete, but he was so much more."

Vela described Barta's sense of humor by recalling a trip to watch a Texas A&M University-Kingsville football game, where they witnessed spectators take part in the old Javelina football game tradition of throwing tortillas onto the field.

"(Barta) told me, 'Look, it's your dream come true,' " Vela said.

After the funeral service, Barta was buried with military honors at Seaside Memorial Park, where, on a cool and misty afternoon, his friends gave expressions of sympathy to his family, and Flour Bluff classmates reunited with one another, teachers and coaches.

Dual trumpeters played taps, a bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" and military riflemen fired their guns.

Gerald Rodriguez greeted Barta's high school friends at the burial.

Rodriguez, who coached football at Flour Bluff High School from 1991-2000, noted how Barta brought the community together. As an athlete, Barta was a Caller-Times All-Metro player in baseball and an All-South Texas player in both baseball and football.

Rodriguez, who now lives in Houston, said he had to drive down and pay his respects.

"He left a big impression on everybody," he said.

Vela was not surprised by the number of people who showed up.

"He has brought camaraderie to the community," he said. "I guess some things never change."

From the Caller Times

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