A cut above the rest

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Chad Warren
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Crossing through the glass doors into the well lit room, the buzz of simultaneous hair clippers drowns out the sound of the televisions. Customers thumb through old, tattered magazines as they wait for their number to be called. A thin, white-haired man calls from the back corner of the room.

"32," he calls out to the waiting patrons.

Scissors in hand, he motions for the next customer to have a seat in front of him.

Larry DeMars has cut hair for the military during every conflict since the Vietnam War, most of that time spent here at Barksdale. He has stood behind a barber chair for more than 30 years and has witnessed Barksdale's transition into the home of Air Force Global Strike Command.

"It's my home," said the 65-year-old barber. "I couldn't cut hair anywhere else. The military is just fun to work with."

DeMars has spent a huge part of his life cutting hair, and his skills are appreciated by his customers, a large number of whom request him by name. His years of experience are recognized and respected by his peers as well, and they take every opportunity to learn from this master-of-his-craft.

"Before I got here, I thought I could cut hair," laughed Henry Moseley, who has been a barber here for 10 years. "I got here and started looking, learning and listening. The guys who had been here awhile really showed me the ropes."

Like a bartender giving advice to troubled patrons, the relationship between a barber and their customers is one of understood trust. DeMars' warm, inviting demeanor creates lasting friendships with his regulars, no matter how much time may pass between their visits.

"I used to cut guys' hair that had just made major, and two of them came back here as three-star generals," said the Mansura, La., native.

From the Vietnam War to Operation Enduring Freedom and every skirmish between, DeMars has dutifully spent his days pleasing customers with a fresh haircut and a friendly conversation. He is at home behind his leather barber chair, clippers in hand. From his back corner of the barber shop, DeMars gives his customers something to look forward to every time they need a quick trim.