The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Alan R. Barnes (MCSN: 2496022), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gunner with Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 12 August 1969, Private First Class Barnes’ squad-sized observation post in Quang Nam Province was surrounded and subsequently assaulted by a large North Vietnamese Army force. Throughout the ensuing engagement, Private First Class Barnes fearlessly exposed himself to the intense hostile fire as he delivered accurate machine gun fire at the advancing enemy, inflicting numerous casualties on the North Vietnamese unit. Suddenly, while disassembling his machine gun to clear a stoppage, he was knocked to the ground by the concussion of a hand grenade which impacted nearby. As a number of enemy soldiers overran the position, he feigned death and lay completely still as three North Vietnamese searched him. Although painfully wounded and still stunned by the explosion of the hand grenade, he quickly reassembled his weapon as the enemy moved away, and killed all three. Thinking only of his injured comrades, he then joined a reaction force and assisted in locating the other casualties and in killing hostile snipers remaining in the area. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Private First Class Barnes earned the respect and admiration of all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.