Cold War veteran believes his life was spared due to love
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) – Robert Van Barrow said he owes his life today to the woman he married. Barrow was an enlisted man in the Air Force, stationed in Germany when he told his superiors of his intention to marry the German woman who would become Margot Barrow.
Keeping the memory of the 'Buffalo Soldiers' alive
'I had put in for a flight – a special TDY flight to Adana, Turkey – which was a dangerous undertaking,' said Barrow.
It was the height of the Cold War in 1958; Barrow was sent to Cornell University to learn the Russian language but he was later switched to the Czech language. He and fellow airmen were charged with listening in on Russian communications – working primarily for the National Security Agency.
'They needed to know how many and what their capabilities were,' continued Barrow.
Because of the sensitivity of their mission – and Barrow's intention to marry a woman who had one time lived in East Germany – Barrow was taken off of that flight.
'That plane was shot down with 17 men aboard,' said Barrow.
There were no survivors. In essence, Barrow believes his life was spared because of his love for Margot – and being taken off of that tragic flight.
'She was a beautiful girl and I loved her for who she was. She lost her father at the age of four during World War II in 1943.'
With his new wife, Barrow left the Air Force and returned to his home state of Florida – earning a degree and his PHD at Florida State. Soon after, he was hired at the upstart University of South Alabama in Mobile, where he became chairman of the department of Political Science and Criminal Justice.
'My first – my first true occupation I suppose was at the University of South Alabama. I was one of the first professors they hired there,' he continued.
It was 1966 – incidentally, the same year the Coast Guard's Aviation Training Center opened in Mobile. It's the same year the Coast Guard became interested in Barrow as well because he was developing the Criminal Justice program at USA.
'What I was developing was a program that served them well. And then I had a number of their agents, most of them recruiters, come to my classes. And one's that came in and said 'you should belong to us',' said Barrow.
The Coast Guard offered Barrow a direct commission and he became an officer in the Coast Guard Reserve – eventually rising to the rank of Captain while continuing his career as a university professor.
Former Alabama Veterans Affairs Commissioner served in 2 military branches
Along the way, He and Margot had two children – son Frank and daughter Audrey. His beloved wife passed away in 2020. This past January, Bob Barrow turned 89 years young. We're proud to honor Dr. Robert Van Barrow for Serving Those Who Serve.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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