Stacy-Barnes Family Papers

Background on the Stacy-Barnes Family Papers

For multiple generations, the Stacy and Barnes families served in the military for the United States. Beginning in the Civil War, both sides of the family had honorable veterans who fought throughout American history. George and Mary Ellen Barnes, brother and sister from Massachusetts, were sent abroad to fight in World War I. Mary, a Red Cross nurse, travelled to France to help heal wounded soldiers. William H. Stacy, also from Massachusetts, served in France as well. The Barnes and Stacy family became one soon after the conclusion of World War I. Mary Barnes and William H. Stacy married as soon as they got home from Europe after falling in love during the war. Mary and William settled in South Hadley after having their sons, Russell and Paul Stacy.

Russell was an engineering student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and working as an apprentice at the General Electric plant in Pittsfield, Massachusetts when the bombing of Pearl Harbor occurred in December of 1941. Russell and Paul would go on to fight in World War II, particularly in the American efforts against the Japanese. Russell enlisted as an Air Force officer, trained for active duty aboard the new B-29 Superfortress, and became a central fire gun controller for the plane “Totin’ to Tokyo.” As part of the 793d Squadron, 468th Bomb Group, 20th Bomber Command he was based in India and served multiple missions across Asia. He began documenting his experiences through correspondence with his family back in Massachusetts. Taking on the same legacy as his parents, Russell continued to fight against the Axis Powers until V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day). Paul also wrote about his experiences fighting abroad, although fewer of his letters have been saved.

After the war, Russell continued working for General Electric, and had a long career as an engineer. He married Peggy Strong, a teacher from South Hadley, Massachusetts. Together, they had two children, Charles and Amantha Stacy. They lived in New England for the rest of their lives, compiling generations’ worth of familial history. Their interest and research into in their family tree resulted in documents tracing their families as early as the first settlers in the colonies.

Soon after the deaths of Mary and William Stacy, Russell and his daughter Amantha began to donate the families’ World War I and World War II documents and artifacts to museums across the nation. As Mary sternly told Russell, he had to preserve everything he had during the war to teach about their experiences. The Stacys’ advocated for the discussions of veterans across the World Wars, even successfully arguing in 2007 that Russell’s mother deserved to have an American Flag placed by her grave each Veteran’s Day. The Stacy and Barnes families took great pride in documenting their patriotic love for the United States while informing others about veterans' experiences abroad.

Russell Stacy died in New Hampshire in May 2009. Peggy died five years later, in 2014. The Barnes and Stacy legacy is continued through the work of their children.