A book published recently, 2019, written by a local man is gaining wide attention. Paul Barbero, a long time Newburgh native, grew up and attended school here. He said, “my interest in history was motivated by my humble, patriotic father Colonel John. J. Barbero”, who flew 44 missions as a navigator over the Himalayas during WWII, sorrowfully dubbed the “Aluminum Trail”.
He said also that he was, “powerfully influenced by the multitude of historical sites in Newburgh, Orange County, the Hudson Valley, and beyond.”
Barbero’s book however, was inspired after he moved to the State of Virginia in 2008. The book, A Far Cry From Green Mountain, is the true-life story of a Virginian, Frank Peregoy and “reveals the struggles and triumphs of the only soldier in American history to have earned the nation’s two highest awards for valor, the Soldier’s Medal and the Congressional Medal of Honor”. Barbero’s interest in the subject’s life began in earnest after noticing the hero’s name several times near his home in the Blue Ridge area of Virginia and then stumbling across Peregoy’s grave some 5000 miles away during a visit to France.
Barbero researched historical and military records and interviewed Peregoy’s surviving family, friends and Army brethren. He delved into Peregoy’s life from childhood, maintaining a poor family farm in Appalachia, living through The Depression, supporting and defending his family, and his fearless efforts to defend his men and country during the WWII, D-Day raid on Omaha Beach. He became determined to spread Peregoy’s story.
Barbero’s conviction to tell it has brought a long overdue, humble hero’s story to life. A must read for anyone interested in WWII and American hero’s. The book is receiving 5 Star only reviews on Amazon and is being compared with the Audie Murphy story, a well known WWII American hero whose life has been the subject of books and movies since soon after the war.
The author, Paul Barbero, will be in the Hudson Valley in March 2020 and will hold talks and signings for the “Company of Military Historians” at the West Point Museum at 7:30 p.m. on March 10, 2020 (more info can be found on their website and Facebook page), at the Newburgh Library on March 11 at 7 pm, and at the Lincoln Depot Museum in Peekskill on March 12 at 7:30 p.m.. All events are free and open to the public.