Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Platoon Sergeant

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    23d Marines

    Division:

    4th Marine Division

    Action Date:

    February 28, 1945

    Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 43550 (June 13, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Platoon Sergeant Michael Barney (MCSN: 437397), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Platoon Leader of Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-Third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 28 February 1945. Promptly assuming command when his Platoon Leader was wounded during an advance upon a strongly fortified hill, Platoon Sergeant Barney skillfully deployed his men and, despite accurate and intense hostile fire from the maze of positions covering the objective, proceeded part way up the hill. After risking his life to move through the platoon zone of action to place his men and machine guns in effective positions, he personally led a group of his men in a forward advance almost to the enemy radar station at the top of the hill where their progress was stopped by interlacing fire. Although failing to reach the objective, Platoon Sergeant Barney skillfully employed his platoon in the destruction of two enemy pillboxes and hostile personnel in three caves with only moderate casualties to his unit. By his leadership and courageous fighting spirit, he contributed materially to paving the way for succeeding assaults, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.