Very sad news... My dad, Barkley B. Yarborough, "Colonel BB" to many, a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps passed away recently.
These are select images from his Marine Corps days which began in 1943.
Dad began life in Texas on May 18, 1925 and left us after a hell of a run on July 14, 2015. We all miss him and he was admired and respected by all who meet him.
I've put in captions as best I could. If you notice something is obviously incorrect, please leave a comment... You can leave comments on any photo once you click on it and are encouraged to do so.
MISS YOU DAD!
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Album by Cris Yarborough. Photos by Cris Yarborough. 1 - 111 of 111 Total. 49181 Visits.
enlarge 266KB, 855x1024 1 COL BB YARBOROUGH This is dad's Marine Corps retirement portrait taken circa 1985. He was all Marine. He loved the Marines and the family loved the Marines and we loved him. A great man which I hope will not be forgotten any time soon!
This is also the pictures that is running with the obit next to this pic. "Your Dad was one of the main..." View Comments...
enlarge 14KB, 791x1024 2 FINAL OBIT COLBB.docx This is the obituary that will run in the LA Times and OC Register.
enlarge 356KB, 1024x796 3 MY DADS BIO HE WROTE IN 2011 "My Dad, Capt. Gerald T. Gaff..." View Comments...
enlarge 223KB, 1024x644 4 IMG 9197 A picture of my dad's sister, Jimmie Lee, on which my dad kept track of the places he went and the ships he was on during his time in the Pacific during WWII. It's amazing that he returned when I see all those names: Enewetok, Guam, Tinian, Saipan, Okinawa, China...
enlarge 194KB, 730x1024 5 IMG 8266 Korea circa 1952
enlarge 110KB, 1024x659 6 IMG 8980 Dad, Camp Pendleton, CA. He could have been in the movies...
enlarge 217KB, 1024x856 7 IMG 8276 Korean War with fellow Marines.
enlarge 290KB, 948x1024 8 IMG 8293 Korea War
enlarge 206KB, 720x1024 9 IMG 8300 This is a tight crop from the prior photo.
enlarge 176KB, 682x1024 10 IMG 8341 Korea circa 1952
enlarge 177KB, 682x1024 11 IMG 8366 After marrying my mom, November 7, 1951. The Chapel at Camp Pendleton. The place is now on the National Historic Register. I like to think its because they got marries there.
enlarge 177KB, 1024x682 12 IMG 8387 Heading out after being married at Camp Pendleton. CA on November 7, 1951.
They were married 63 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!
enlarge 213KB, 1024x673 13 IMG 8406 Korean War circa 1952
enlarge 195KB, 682x1024 14 IMG 8421 Korean War circa 1952.
enlarge 199KB, 692x1024 15 IMG 8427 Korean War circa 1952. Marines and beer, forever, always...
enlarge 171KB, 690x1024 16 IMG 8448
enlarge 216KB, 1024x671 17 IMG 8588 Korean War circa 1952 "One of my favorite photos of..." View Comments...
enlarge 254KB, 1024x705 18 IMG 8597
enlarge 219KB, 667x1024 19 IMG 8642
enlarge 276KB, 1011x1024 20 IMG 8813 On board a plane for a fellow Marine Officers 1000th jump (or something along those lines)...
enlarge 259KB, 821x1024 21 IMG 8820 A Change of Command ceremony in the 1960's at Camp Pendleton, CA. Dad is on the right. "Goodness, he looks like Gene..." View Comments...
enlarge 271KB, 768x1024 22 IMG 8853 Dad and a friend in Texas after WWII and before Korea. He actually got out of the Marines after WWII as a Corporal and then reenlisted when Korea broke out. He didn't get his rank back and was a Private again, though not for long. He was selected for OCS during the Korean war and became an a Marine Second Lieutenant in 1951.
enlarge 217KB, 1024x713 23 IMG 8869 Dad loved his time as an MP on Camp Pendleton in the 1950's. Here, he and a friend pose for a fun pic...
enlarge 138KB, 586x1024 24 IMG 8878
enlarge 202KB, 1152x696 25 IMG 8915 San Francisco, 1943. Dad spent a lot of time in San Francisco prior to shipping out to the Pacific was in WWII. He has some wild stories from that time... I'm certain dad kept the crazier ones to himself!
enlarge 202KB, 1024x644 26 IMG 8921 San Francisco, 1943
enlarge 155KB, 1024x685 27 IMG 9066 Dad, right, in Texas circa 1930...
enlarge 207KB, 1024x692 28 IMG 9108 Dad in Korea circa 1951 - 1952.
enlarge 285KB, 704x1024 29 IMG 8712 Dad loved to tell the story of when he brought beer in his pack up to the front lines. After a long day hiking up to the lines, he and another Marine, I believe a Lieutenant, got into their bunker and the LT said something along the lines of "I'd give a months pay for a beer right now.." Dad the senior of the two men, replied "Don't be too reckless Lieutenant..." and pulled out two large bottles of Sapporo (or Asahi) beer... Those stories are worth their weight in gold.
enlarge 215KB, 1024x680 30 IMG 9116 WWII. I believe he said this was Okinawa but it could have been Saipan or Tinian.
enlarge 192KB, 1024x901 31 IMG 9167
enlarge 184KB, 764x1024 32 IMG 9195 This is likely from the early to mid 1960's. I got to wear those Captain's bars after he made Major. See the next picture-->
enlarge 173KB, 1024x800 33 CRIS CIRCA 1966...? I am wearing the captains bars that my dad wore in the prior picture. My mom took dad's old Gabardine utilities and tailored them down to my size. At that time, Gabardine was no longer used and when I went on base with my dad, dressed like a Marine, all the active Marines thought my uniform was great. They loved Gabardine.
enlarge 191KB, 1024x710 34 IMG 9214 Dad in China circa 1946
enlarge 176KB, 693x1024 35 IMG 9235 Dad on ship, I believe on the way back from China, 1946.
enlarge 204KB, 1024x798 36 IMG 9260 Dad in China circa 1946
enlarge 172KB, 618x1024 37 IMG 9263 Dad in China circa 1946. He was with a Chinese Colonel that was dumped on him by officers who are supposed to take him around. My dad the Corporal spent time with him. We've always wondered what may have happened to him after the Communists won. Probably nothing good.
enlarge 232KB, 1152x718 38 IMG 8242 Dad in Korea I believe...
enlarge 179KB, 1024x664 39 IMG 8252
enlarge 279KB, 867x1024 40 IMG 8269 Dad during the Korean War, 1951 or 1952
enlarge 270KB, 1152x690 41 IMG 8316 Dad with his Marines in Korean. Dad is the front row, just to the right of center sitting cross-legged.
enlarge 227KB, 1024x769 42 IMG 8339 The Korean War, circa 1952. Dad is front right.
enlarge 246KB, 719x1024 43 IMG 8345 Beer and Marines... A common theme. Dad is on the right.
enlarge 136KB, 1024x678 44 IMG 8347 I believe this is Korea, 1952
enlarge 191KB, 1024x730 45 IMG 8370 Dad and mom at their wedding at the Chapel at Camp Pendleton, CA, Nov 7, 1951.
enlarge 140KB, 1024x666 48 IMG 8442 Korea, 1951 or 1952
enlarge 134KB, 1024x682 49 IMG 8528 Dad in Korea, 1952, standing right behind the pack in the center.
enlarge 329KB, 1024x719 50 IMG 8675 Korea, 1952
enlarge 252KB, 1024x808 51 IMG 8705 Korea 1952
enlarge 211KB, 1152x626 52 IMG 8799 Dad in Texas with his friends. Dad is top right. I think this was post WWII, and before Korea.
enlarge 164KB, 599x1024 53 IMG 8802 Dad in Texas between the wars.
enlarge 276KB, 1024x765 54 IMG 8826 Dad as a LtCol during a ceremony of some type at Camp Pendleton, CA. Look at those perfectly starched utilities! Anyone know who the General is?
enlarge 158KB, 1152x663 55 IMG 8889 Dad in Texas with his friends post WWII and before Korea.
enlarge 212KB, 1024x684 56 IMG 8896 Dad in San Francisco prior to shipping off to the Pacific, 1943 "Oh my, what a young whipper-..." View Comments...
enlarge 192KB, 1152x661 57 IMG 8903 San Francisco, 1943
enlarge 171KB, 1024x658 58 IMG 8905 San Francisco, 1943
enlarge 256KB, 1152x696 59 IMG 8907 San Francisco, 1943
enlarge 199KB, 1024x666 61 IMG 8959 Dad with Marine friends in Tijuana 1943. Dad is the second guy on the Donkey. Wow...
enlarge 258KB, 1152x688 62 IMG 8971 Dad in Tijuana, Mexico 1943. He is n the far right.
enlarge 209KB, 1024x738 63 IMG 8967 Dad, second from right, in Tijuana, 1943...
enlarge 194KB, 1024x682 64 IMG 9056 Dad is standing on the back right. I think this is Okinawa, Japan, 1945.
enlarge 214KB, 1024x691 65 IMG 9064 Dad and his sister, Jimmy Lee in Texas...
enlarge 167KB, 1024x762 66 IMG 9075 Dad, center, between the wars, in Texas.
enlarge 173KB, 675x1024 67 IMG 9078 This is dad getting on ship to head home from China, 1946... Maybe he is getting off ship to go to China... Anyway, dad had a great adventure in China and he lived a wonderful life.
enlarge 180KB, 678x1024 68 IMG 9096 Dad on ship 1946 (most likely)...
enlarge 231KB, 671x1024 69 IMG 9106 Korea, 1952
enlarge 203KB, 1024x660 70 IMG 9183 Dad in San Francisco, 1943. He is the tall one in the back row. The person in the suit and tie just walked up, got in the picture and then walked away. Nobody ever knew him or saw him again. Is this the world's first Photo Bomb?
enlarge 160KB, 670x1024 71 IMG 9199 Dad in China, 1946
enlarge 179KB, 1024x654 72 IMG 9201 San Francisco, 1943. Dad on the left.
enlarge 254KB, 1024x869 78 IMG 8278 Dad, center, in Korea 1952
enlarge 238KB, 1024x986 79 IMG 8411 Dad, far right, in some darn cold weather... 1952
enlarge 195KB, 707x1024 80 IMG 8470 My mom, Lea Yarborough, at the beach in Los Angeles while dad was away in Korea, 1952 "Wow! Beautiful lady." View Comments...
enlarge 148KB, 682x1024 81 IMG 8475 My mom, Lea Yarborough, in Los Angeles while dad was away in Korea, 1952
enlarge 241KB, 1024x690 82 IMG 8599 Dad, on left, in Korea, 1952ish
enlarge 181KB, 1024x686 84 IMG 8646 Dad in Jeep, unknown time, as a PFC
enlarge 278KB, 984x1024 85 IMG 8925 Dad, pre-WWII
enlarge 279KB, 672x1024 86 IMG 9144 Dad on Okinawa, 1945
enlarge 208KB, 758x1024 87 IMG 9170 Dad on Okinawa 1945
enlarge 218KB, 1024x790 88 IMG 9192 Dad, on left, receiving some honor, I just do recall what he said it was... Probably early 1960's.
enlarge 323KB, 1013x1024 89 IMG 9196 My dad, right, in a publicity photo in the late 1950's or early 1960's. Camp Pendleton, CA
enlarge 282KB, 1024x896 90 IMG 8840 Dad, Okinawa, 1945. What a nice tent...
enlarge 272KB, 768x1024 91 IMG 9007 My mom, Lea Yarborough in Galveston, TX circa 1950. "Your mother was a beautiful ..." View Comments...
enlarge 166KB, 720x1024 92 IMG 9043 Dad, right, between the wars.
enlarge 245KB, 1152x682 93 IMG 9128 A club card dad brought back from China.
enlarge 313KB, 1024x658 94 IMG 9129
enlarge 213KB, 1024x642 95 IMG 9131 A business card dad brought back from China.
enlarge 291KB, 666x1024 96 IMG 9179 Dad on Okinawa, 1945.
enlarge 286KB, 701x1024 97 IMG 8824 Dad, Camp Pendleton, CA, circa 1966 1967...
enlarge 257KB, 1152x697 98 IMG 8844 Dad, on left, posing... Where? I don't know but may be able to find out. If you know who and where please chime in! Or more appropriately, "SOUND OFF!"
enlarge 194KB, 1024x649 99 IMG 8950 Dad, 1943/44 somewhere. He is the one on the ground next to the first step. For Marines, standing in line is one of the joys of being in the service... "Hurry up and wait!"
enlarge 153KB, 676x1024 100 IMG 8955 Dad, right, and a fellow Marine, 1943. I may be able to find out who that is. If you know, leave a comment.
I saw this obituary in the OC Register and pulled it out to look at the website listed. I just took the opportunity to look at your posting. This is a great view to the life of an American hero. He lived a full and interesting life here and abroad. I was in the Marines but never met the Colonel. Living in Orange County, I feel I missed out on meeting a true hero who made sacrifices for this great country. My condolences to you, your family and your mother for such a great loss. Men like your father made this country great. I am comforted knowing that the Colonel is manning the pearly gates! Semper fi! - Keith Hinckley, Sat, 5 Sep 2015 11:33AM
Saw your obituary in O C Register this morning. It was a great read. My dad was also a Marine at Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa and Nagasaki, Occupation of Japan. He was with the 2nd Marine Division 5th Marines. On Saipan, after clearing out a cave, my dad and a fellow Marine found a bottle of Sake, not Sapporo, and drank it.Their officer made them throw it up.He was born 3-5-25 and died 2-13-15. - muttsTom Jones, Sat, 25 Jul 2015 9:26AM
Your Dad's obit caught my eye. Was so inspired to read about him and wow to be able to learn more via the online tribute. What a wonderful life and loving family he leaves. Thank you for sharing your Dad. And many thanks and blessings to him for his lengthy military service that benefited us all, everywhere. My condolences for your great loss. CL - Carolin, Sat, 25 Jul 2015 9:02AM
Saw the obit in LA times, joined the Marine Corps in 1963, Chu Lai in 1966. Proud of my service and proud of your dad's service my uncle a Chicago police officer was named Fred Yarborough. God Bless the Col. and family - richard johnaon, Sat, 25 Jul 2015 8:28AM
WOW, THIS IS WONDERFUL. MANY PHOTOS SEEN DURING OUR LIFETIME WITH THE YARBOS AND FAMILY. B B IS A MEMORY FOR A LIFETIME, SUCH A PATRIOT AND A TRUE FRIEND, ALWAYS FAITHFUL. I AM SORRY THAT LIVING IN OREGON NOW PREVENTED ME FROM BEING IN RIVERSIDE ON 7/22, BUT I WAS THERE IN SPIRIT ALL DAY AND AM SENDING LOVE AND WISHES THAT GREAT MEMORIES WILL CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN US ALL WITH THE FACT THAT BB YARBOROUGH IS IN HEAVEN WATCHING OVER US. LOVE TO FAM, VJC/HNR - VICKI CROZIER/HAL REYNOLDS, Thu, 23 Jul 2015 6:47PM
Chris, your Dad's passing is a great loss to all those of us who knew and loved him. Your photo tribute is wonderful. Thank you for sharing the part of his life that some of us who knew him later had not seen. My husband Bob & I spent many lovely New Year's Eve's with B.B. and Lea. B.B. and Bob...two Marines who loved the Corps. Semper Fi. - Marian Corsiglia, Sun, 19 Jul 2015 5:52PM
Cris, What a heart warming tribute to a true patriot and gentleman. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. We had the privilege of knowing him and Lea; and to be part of their lives. What fun we had. We already miss him dearly. All our love, Bobby & Liz - Bob & Liz Eubanks, Fri, 17 Jul 2015 4:56PM
Cris, this wonderful. And Barkley was wonderful. I will miss him forever. Thank you. Love you, Mom - Lea Yarborough, Fri, 17 Jul 2015 3:30PM
What an amazing tribute and wonderful set of photographs!! BB and Lea have been such great friends and have many memories with my parents, Tom and Shirley Carter! BB will be sincerely missed and our thoughts and prayers are with your Mom and your entire family at this time! - Cindy and Steve Ross, Fri, 17 Jul 2015 2:14PM
