Uniform Coat, Recovered
- Description
- Recovered FDNY Class A uniform coat belonging to Assistant Chief Gerard A. Barbara. The coat has four gold stripes on each cuff and two gold pins on the collar. An FDNY patch is on the upper left sleeve. A name tag with "Barbara" printed on the front is attached to the right breast of the coat, and three service pins are on the upper left breast. The coat is slightly dusty and stained.
- Historical Notes
- Born in Brooklyn, Gerard Barbara lived on Staten Island with his wife, Joanne. The couple had two grown children. With a firefighting career spanning 31 years, on September 11, Gerard was serving as Assistant Chief of Department and Citywide Tour Commander. That morning, Assistant Chief Barbara responded from FDNY headquarters, subsequently assisting command outside the South Tower. He was 53 years old.
Curator's Comment
Alarms transmitted across New York City called 23 engine and ladder companies to respond to a plane crash at “Box 8087,” the FDNY’s shorthand reference for the World Trade Center. FDNY Assistant Chief of Department Gerard Barbara arrived there soon after the North Tower was hit, wearing his Class A uniform, a dress uniform worn by FDNY officers when representing the department in a public capacity. Upon arriving at the scene, he changed into bunker gear before heading to the South Tower to establish a command post.
Barbara's dress uniform, including this coat, was later found inside the FDNY vehicle he drove to the scene.
Barbara's dress uniform, including this coat, was later found inside the FDNY vehicle he drove to the scene.
- Accession Number: C.2009.413.17
- Dimensions: 28 in X 24.25 in X 1.5 in
- Dimensions (Metric): 71.12 cm X 61.595 cm X 3.81 cm
- Source: Joanne Barbara
- Credit Line: Gift of Joanne Barbara, Caren Barbara-Villarreal and Paul Barbara
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