The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunner’s Mate First Class William Keith Barratt, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as a crew member of an Allied junk when attacked by a heavily armed Japanese junk off Haimen on the East China Coast on 21 August 1945. He manned a .50 caliber machine gun until they closed with the enemy. He then secured a Thompson Sub-Machine gun abandoned by a Chinese guerilla crew member and from an open and exposed position on the bow he kept up a steady and harassing fire on the enemy successfully covering a shipmate who was manning a machine gun and keeping the enemy riflemen under cover. With disregard for his own safety he exposed himself to heavy fire from the enemy and materially assisted in the capture of the enemy vessel and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. His action throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.