The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Quartermaster Second Class Lester John Barre (NSN: 349924), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in action during the attack on the Light Cruiser U.S.S. MARBLEHEAD (CL-12), by Japanese enemy bombers on 4 February 1942. When the steering engine room of the ship was wrecked by bomb explosions and the rudder jammed, with shoulder deep oil and water flooding the congested space, the air foul with smoke and chlorine gas from shorted steering battery leads, Quartermaster Second Class Barre, despite being surrounded by electrical fires, worked tirelessly and with unflinching courage to free the jammed rudder and to lock it amidships. This tenacious spirit together with an utter disregard for his own personal safety, contributed greatly toward the saving of the ship for further war services and the saving of many lives.