Iraq veteran remembered by police, Air Force, Navy and many more

Family Mourns Former Montgomery Police Officer, Air National Guardsman, War Veteran

Updated: May 12, 2008 10:54 PM EDT


A former Montgomery man was looking for not just a way out but a way up when he left our city.

On the way, he served our country as a police officer, a Navy man, as an Air Force mechanic, and he saw action in Iraq not once but three times.

His life is over, but not his legacy. It's a legacy his family says should inspire others.

The family's tape player is showing an image and a time young Jermichael Barnett might remember best.

It's from Christmas 2006, and Michael Barnett was doing what he did best - work on something.

"He'd always strive go go higher," said Barnett's younger brother, Fred.

It seems Barnett had an itch only constant change could scratch. Right out of school, he joined the Navy, then local police.

Then he joined the Air Force and found himself fighting against Iraq, not once but three times.

"When the planes would come back, they'd come back to him because he worked on the planes, they'd be full of bullet holes, so he knew houw tough it was," Fred Barnett said.

In the past couple of years, Michael Barnett settled in the Atlanta area, working as an airplane mechanic for Lockheed Martin, and as a welder on the side.

When he wasn't working, he coached his son's baseball team.

"He loved being respected. He loved wearing a respectable uniform," said his brother.

It all came to a tragic end last Wednesday, when a driver turned left in front of Barnett's motorcycle.

He never had a chance to slow down.

"Thrown off the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene," said Mr. Barnett.
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