I was saddened to read of the passing of Colonel Ken Barnes. Colonel Barnes served the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and by extension, Jamaica, for more than 33 years. He was an exemplary officer and gentleman.

For those, like myself, who had the privilege of serving with him, we can attest to this model officer and man. I will certainly remember him for his honesty and integrity, his modesty, his scorn of pretentiousness, his love and respect for fair play, and above all, his total dedication and loyalty to Jamaica.

Decisive and calm

He certainly led always by example and those, like me, who had the honour of serving under his command in Grenada will remember him for his decisiveness and calmness under the most stressful of circumstances.

There are so many officers and soldiers of the JDF (current and former) whose lives Colonel Barnes impacted in a positive manner, and we certainly owe him an everlasting debt of gratitude.

Shakespeare would certainly have said of him, "His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, 'This was a man'!"

I am, etc.,

Colonel Allan Douglas

alldouglas@aol.com

Miami, Florida