The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Specialist Thomas Joseph Barbieri, II, United States Army, for gallantry in action during combat operations against an armed enemy, while serving as a Gunner with the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division, as part of the Joint Task Force in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 23 August 2006. Specialist Barbieri assaulted heavily armed enemy combatants who were occupying a strong ambush position with dominating fields of fire. Utilizing his squad automatic weapon, he conducted a daring assault on the flank of the enemy force, exposing himself in full view of the enemy in order to bring his weapon to bear and prevent enemy fire on his Platoon Sergeant and the rest of his platoon located in the ambush kill zone. He killed one enemy combatant and made possible the destruction of the second, but only at the cost of his own life. Specialist Barbieri’s distinctive accomplishments are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, this Command, and the United States Army.