The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Thomas D. Barrett, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 26 September 1967, while serving as Officer-in-Charge of Light Photographic Squadron SIXTY-THREE, embarked in U.S.S. INTREPID (CVS-11), in support of combat operations in Vietnam. Displaying superb airmanship, he led a reconnaissance flight through anti-aircraft fire to obtain damage assessment photography of a target immediately following a combined mission. An enemy shell severed most of the outer wing panel of his aircraft, throwing the plane out of control. He continued his mission with his crippled aircraft, maneuvering to obtain coverage of his primary photographic target. He successfully concluded his mission, landing his plane aboard ship.