The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier’s Medal to Specialist Fourth Class Mark John Barrett (ASN: RA-11707326), United States Army, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Specialist Fourth Class Barrett, a member of the 521st Military Police Company (Service), Fort Belvoir, Virginia, distinguished himself while on Military Police Patrol with his partner at approximately 0105 hours on 31 July 1968, when they came upon a motor vehicle accident which had occurred on Morrow Road near Fort Belvoir. Specialist Barrett, upon arriving at the scene, immediately dismounted his vehicle to see if he could provide assistance and secure the scene. The vehicle involved had gone out of control, struck a tree, and burst into flames. A passenger in the vehicle informed Specialist Barrett that two men, injured and unconscious, were trapped in the burning vehicle. Specialist Barrett immediately rushed to the vehicle, which was entirely engulfed in flames and in imminent danger of exploding, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, attempted to extricate the trapped victims. He was driven back by the intense heat and flames from the burning wreckage. He immediately returned to his patrol vehicle and obtained a fire extinguisher from his patrol kit. Specialist Barrett again returned to the burning vehicle and attempted to extinguish the fire. He was partially successful, and with the vehicle still in flames and in danger of exploding, Specialist Barrett and his partner removed the injured persons from the vehicle to a place of safety. By this time additional assistance had arrived, however Specialist Barrett remained on the scene until relieved by the Military Police Duty Officer. Specialist Barrett’s decisive thinking, calm actions in the face of great personal danger, courage, and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.