Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Specialist Fourth Class

    Action Date:

    March 7, 1962

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 60 (October 12, 1962)

    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 Winston H. Barber, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 35th Artillery Brigade Air Defense, Hampton Roads Element, United States Army, on 7 March 1962, at Nags Head, North Carolina. Specialist Barber and the other members of the detachment were forced to evacuate the radar site when a treacherous storm, characterized by raging floodwaters and high tidal waves, threatened to destroy the main buildings. Realizing that many classified documents were stored at the site, Specialist Barber volunteered to return to the site to salvage them. Without concern for his own personal safety or life, he traveled a round-trip over two miles through the hazardous rampaging floodwaters with waves up to 15 feet and salvaged approximately seventy-five pounds of material. Specialist Barber’s heroic action in the face of extreme danger is worthy of emulation and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Army.