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 First Class Lewis R. Barnes (ASN: ER-36748659), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company C, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 12 February 1951 in the vicinity of Saemal, Korea. Infiltrated enemy forces had set up machine guns, automatic weapons and mortars on both sides of a road and were delivering accurate and devastating fire upon elements of a vehicular column moving south toward Hoengsong. After sixteen long, weary hours of fighting this enemy as a member of a recoilless rifle squad, Private Barnes was attached to a rifle platoon which had the mission to wipe out several hostile machine gun emplaced on high ground overlooking the road. During this attack, Private Barnes picked up an abandoned automatic rifle and delivering heavy machine gun fire, fearlessly advanced frontally upon one of the enemy positions at which time he was seriously wounded. Though barely able to walk, he nevertheless proceeded with his assault until he had gained the hostile position where he killed the entire enemy crew with automatic rifle fire. His audacious action enabled his comrades to eliminate the remainder of the enemy and was responsible for saving many lives. The gallantry displayed by Private Barnes reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.