Published in the Chicago Tribune on 9/29/2006.

After parachuting in total darkness into France to begin 94 days of continuous combat during World War II, Dave Barry was wounded with shrapnel in the right leg and both knees. He managed to walk three miles until he came upon Patton's Third Armored Division and received medical treatment. Although reluctant to discuss his experiences in the war during most of his life, Mr. Barry was fond of saying that he kept walking because he ''believed tomorrow would be better than today.'' It was a motto he followed his entire life.

A former resident of Evanston, he died Aug. 23 in Delavan, WI, where he had lived the past 20 years. Mr. Barry was the only child of Dave and Margaret Barry and grew up in St. Ignatius Parish in Rogers Park. His father had been a former professional boxer who refereed the famous ''Long Count Fight'' between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney on Sept. 27, 1927. An avid athlete, he played baseball and basketball for both St. George High School and Loyola Academy before enlisting in the Army and volunteering for paratrooper duty. He was a member of the U.S. Army 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team. The 517th became part of the 36th Division and was involved in heavy fighting. During World War II, Mr. Barry received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and five Unit decorations.