MARYSVILLE – Memorial Day is all about remembering those who have died in service to this country.

Even at 89, Farlan Dubarry remembers all too well. The World War II bronze star recipient fought in the 96th Army Infantry in Okinawa as a machine gunner. While his memory has faded on some things, he can still vividly recall the bodies and stench of war.

“His memories are so graphic,” said his wife-to-be, Bobbie. “War is a horrible, horrible thing.”

Farlan agreed.”I can’t explain it or even believe it. It’s kill or be killed.”

In a letter then to his mom, Farlan wrote, “It’s one giant graveyard.”

Now, times are good for the couple. They will be married in June at Leifer Manor on State Avenue.

“We’re their oldest clients,” said Bobbie, 83. “Farlan added, “I’m robbin’ the cradle.”

They wanted to go to Nevada to be married by Elvis but instead will have Danny Vernon, an Elvis impersonator, here.

They have been together for 2 1/2 years, after Farlan’s previous wife died in 2012. Bobbie served coffee and donuts at Safeway, and one day she asked Farlan to breakfast.

“I’m happy now with a beautiful life, and we’re going to live out our lives together hopefully for quite a few years,” he said.

In their time together, Bobbie has seen the appreciation this city has for veterans like Farlan. She’s counted 57 times that people have bought his meals at a number of different local restaurants. “Ninety-nine percent of the time we had no idea who it was,” he said.

Until he retired in 1988, Farlan was a baker. “Most people think of someone in a tall hat carrying a cake, but it’s a tough job,” he said.

Early life

Farlan grew up in the toughest of times – during The Depression. His dad lost the farm so they traveled all over looking for jobs as migrant farm workers.

Going to school was sporadic for Farlan. “It was hit and miss, we moved around so much,” he said, adding he dropped out at age 16.

His dad saw an ad that the Hostess Bakery in Seattle needed help, so the family moved there, and they both started work.

Farlan said at 17 he wanted to join the Navy, but his mom wouldn’t sign the papers. He was drafted when he was 18 in 1944 for a two-year stint.

He was given a choice between the Army, Navy and Marines. He told them Navy, but his papers were stamped “Army.” He went to Fort Lewis.

He’s in the Army now

Farlan was sent to a base in California, where he saw problems right away. The locals didn’t care much for the soldiers.

“Businesses had signs that said, ‘No soldiers or dogs allowed.’ “

The base also housed prisoners of war from Italy. “They had free reign of the base,” or so it seemed, Farlan said.

There was resentment that the enemy was being treated better than the troops. So, there were some violent acts of revenge against the Italians, he said.

Farlan was sent to the Pacific Theatre in February, 1945. He was in a rifle company. His squad was asked who would like to volunteer to man the machine guns. No one volunteered.

“So, they said, ‘You, you and you,’ and I was one of the yous,” he said. “It was a good thing I later found out.”

Farlan credits that happenstance with saving his life. “Somebody was looking out for me,” he said.

Many other close calls were to follow.

Farlan was then sent to Okinawa. As a machine gunner, he followed behind those with rifles, giving them support. They had to go into tunnels looking for Japanese. “Thank goodness we didn’t have to,” he said.

He recalls watching soldiers going up hills under fire, suffering enormous casualties. “It took incredible courage,” Farlan said, adding he wasn’t on the “gravy train” with his job either.

Near misses

Once, Farlan was in a foxhole by himself because his buddy had been killed. It was quiet, and he got restless. He got up, and wasn’t 30 feet away when an artillery shell hit the hole where he was.

Another time he was digging a foxhole, and a mortar shell hit dirt he had just dug out.

“I looked at the shell, and it was still smokin’,” he said. “It was inches from coming in the hole with me.”

His third brush with death came when he fell asleep in a foxhole. They were in the holes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“I woke up to a Japanese soldier above us,” Farlan said, adding his buddy in the hole shot him to save their lives.

“I was 18 and just plain scared. I made all kinds of promises to the Lord,” which he forgot once the danger passed, he said.

In that situation, he said he couldn’t worry about death. “You don’t dwell on it. You’re scared all the time. But you don’t want to let your buddy down,” he said.

During the war, he recalled that communications were not always the best. His unit was involved in an artillery gunfight one time, when four friendly planes flew over. Three were shot down accidentally by their own troops. He said there was an effort to better coordinate air strikes and artillery after that.

In another incident of poor communication, his unit came upon a site after an air strike. “There were so many bodies,” he said. “There were mounds of people out there.”

He said the ground was so hard that they couldn’t dig foxholes, so they were exposed. A Marine unit fired upon them, not knowing they were comrades. Some of the soldiers were hit.

End of the war

Farlan left Okinawa and was at sea headed for the Philippines when the first atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. “We didn’t know what it was,” he said of the bomb.

Japan surrendered after the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. “There wasn’t a G.I. in the Pacific that wasn’t jubilant,” he said. “I would not be alive today if it wasn’t for the atom bomb.”

The Army had a good incentive program to re-enlist, but Farlan turned it down. “I wanted to get out as soon as I could,” he said.

Farlan said the Navy downsized so quickly after the war that there was no transport home. He ended up having to take a merchant ship.

His division was one of four to receive the Presidential Citation for heroism and gallantry. It says 37,763 enemy were killed over 73 days, with only 1,504 friendly troops killed. He also received a bronze star.

Memorial Day

Farlan has been part of the Memorial Day ceremony at the Marysville Cemetery for years as a member of American Legion Post 178. He likes that the day is set aside for remembrance and that large crowds normally attend.

He has previously commanded the firing squad for the 21-gun salute at the event. He also has placed the flags up and taken them down. But because of his seniority status, he said it’s time to take it easy.

“I’ll go there for decoration,” he said.

American Legion Post 178 of Marysville will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony Monday, May 30, at 11 a.m. at the Marysville Cemetery, 8801 State Ave.

In Arlington, the American Legion puts on a parade starting at 10 a.m. downtown on Olympic Avenue.

Each year Marysville American Legion members, community partners and cemetery staff orchestrate a patriotic display of more than 250 donated veterans’ casket burial flags. The colors fly along the cemetery driveways, retired and reposted by volunteers at dusk and dawn each day of the holiday weekend from Saturday through Monday.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring will be among the speakers. The ceremony also includes: Marysville-Pilchuck High School’s band, Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps honor guard and rifle salute to the fallen.

Following the service is the American Legion’s Annual Open House. Light lunch and refreshments will be served at the post hall, 119 Cedar Ave. from noon to 3 p.m.

All are free public events.