The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private Keith L. Barker (ASN: 39464056), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company M, 3d Battalion, 129th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy at Luzon, Philippine Islands. When our positions at Fort Stotsenburg were attacked by three enemy tanks on 30 January 1945, Lieutenant Ellis Shaw and Private Keith Barker procured a rocket launcher, dashed across an open field under heavy hostile machine gun and 47-mm. fire from the tanks, and then crawled 75 yards to a position alongside the road over which the Japanese armor was approaching. In quick succession they fired two rounds. One was a narrow miss and the other was a direct hit which completely disabled the lead tank and blocked the road completely. The remaining two enemy tanks, unable to maneuver on the narrow highway, were easy targets for our tanks. The brave action of these two men completely disorganized the Japanese infantry which was supporting the hostile tanks. Their gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for their own lives, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States Army.