An experience to remember and a promise kept

World War II veteran talks about his involvement in the Manhattan Project.

At a time of war and top secret missions, Trinidad Barreras was one of the few men who knew what was going on behind the scenes.

Barreras enlisted into the U.S. Army on December 7, 1942, at age 18.

“You’ve never seen a war that everybody was willing to do whatever they could to do their part,” Barreras said. “I don’t think you could see a civilian boy walking the streets, because most of them were at the war.”

After six months of basic training, Barreras was sent to the state college in Arkansas for six months of additional training. He was later assigned to Casper, Wyo., and eventually sent to work on the Manhattan Project in Wendover, Utah.

Nearly 63 years later, Barreras shares his experiences working for the Manhattan Project.

Photo by: Mary Saavedra

Barreras in a moment of rembrance.

The Manhattan Project

The Manhattan Project was the code name for the U.S. government's secret project, during World War II. In 1942 the Manhattan Engineer Project was set up in the United States under the command of Brigadier General Leslie Groves, charged with recruiting to produce an atomic bomb.

At the time, Barreras worked as a supply sergeant, and his duties were to keep the unit supplied with whatever components were needed to make the atomic bomb.

Photo by: Mary Saavedra

A photo of Barreras and his late wife Eva, when he was in the military.

“This was so secret, that nobody knew about it,” Barreras said. “In fact, when you went into the unit you swore that nothing you saw would ever go past that base.

“You couldn’t even talk to your fellow buddy about it because you didn’t know if your buddy was a part of the FBI or OSS,” he added. “There are still things that I can’t say. Even though a lot of it is already out there, on the Internet, my commitment was to not say anything. That’s the promise I made.”

The experience, the stories

As the war continued, and the first bombing raid by Americans on Germany came to pass in 1943, the Manhattan Project remained a top secret.

“I remember one time, four of us went out, my buddy and I went to the casino in Wendover, and the other two guys went to the restaurant next door,” Barreras said. “But when we met up later, one of the guys that went to the restaurant went missing.

“Turned out he was talking to another guy about things he shouldn’t have been talking about, and we never saw him again. That’s how critical it was to keep the secret.”

Barreras continued: “We knew we were working on a bomb, they didn’t have to tell us that because we could see it. Even from my office you could see the different designs of bombs. But they told us that what we were working on would end the war, they knew it.”

Barreras was never on the battlefield but got to work in the outskirts of the Pacific, where the potential for danger was high.

“We didn’t quite realize all the dangers, so it didn’t make any difference at all, because to us, it was just another assignment,” Barreras said.

Involved in the project from June 1944 through January 1946, Barreras has many memories of his experience.

“He always told us little short stories about it, but he couldn’t tell me very much because a lot of it was top secret stuff,” daughter Lupe Ivey said. “I think it’s a scary thing, but I’m glad it’s over with and that he did his job.”

When Barreras had completed his part of project in 1946, Germany had already surrendered. His unit then received a presidential citation for their hard work.

Photo by: Mary Saavedra

Barreras' honorable discharge certificate.

The unit insignia they received was green with a gold wreath on it, one that Barreras always wore proudly, on the sleeve of his uniform.

“I’m very proud of him, and glad he was a part of helping our country,” Ivey said. “He enjoyed what he did and he’s always been proud of what he did, so I’m glad that everything turned out OK.”

Son-in-law Alex Ivey added: “I think it’s great that he was involved in the project, and I’m honored that he’s in our family.”

Life after the military

After serving four years in the military, Barreras went back to work for Santa Fe railroad.

“See, I worked for the railroad before I went in to the military,” Barreras said. “And at that time because it was a world war, anybody that went to war was guaranteed the job that they had when they came back.

“I don’t regret one minute of serving in the military. In fact if I had not had a job waiting for me when I got out, I probably would’ve stayed in,” he said. “But I was already married at the time and had a good job.

“I think that anybody that goes into the military learns so much more discipline and responsibility. You become more aware of your fellow citizen, and you grow up fast.”

Barreras worked five years as a boil maker; however, once the diesels came in and there were no stream engines, he worked three years in fret car department, but was later laid off when there was no more work available.

After getting laid off, Barreras came to Albuquerque and worked for three years, as a control operator at a cement plant that was one of the most modern cement plants at that time.

Photo by: Mary Saavedra

Barreras earned a B.S. in civil engineering from UNM.

Until one day, in 1957, when he received a phone call from Kirtland AFB telling him that there was a job opening that paid more and gave more days off. So he applied for the position and was hired the same day.

While working at Kirtland AFB, he decided to go to UNM to earn a degree in civil engineering, taking the opportunity offered by the GI Bill.

But because he was working full time to support his family, it took him almost 10 years to earn his degree, and he never had a chance to use it like he had hoped to.

“Yeah, I think about things,” Barreras said while reflecting on his past experiences. “But my life went on.”

Written April 16, 2009

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