The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain John Jay Barrett (MCSN: 0-85356/1677903), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE (HMM-263), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 10 February 1969, Captain Barrett launched as Section Leader on the second mission of the night for the emergency medical evacuation of casualties heavily engaged with a North Vietnamese force in Quang Nam Province. Arriving at the designated area, he was informed that the area was un-secured and that evacuation was critical. Electing to attempt an emergency extraction he commenced an approach with all aircraft lighting extinguished, entering the fire-swept area. While on final approach he was wounded by fragments that hit the cockpit, but he ignored his painful wounds and continued his approach and skillfully maneuvered to a landing in the darkened area. Completely disregarding his own safety, he steadfastly maneuvered the helicopter in a dangerously exposed position until the casualties were embarked, and then departed for the medical facility at DaNang. When informed of another wounded casualty among the friendly force, Captain Barrett unhesitatingly flew to the wounded man’s position, embarked him, and was lifting out of the area when he was informed that three soldiers seriously wounded by an enemy booby trap required immediate evacuation. Guided only by a single strobe light he skillfully maneuvered into the hazardous area, extracted the wounded Vietnamese and departed the zone for the medical facility at DaNang. By his courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Captain Barrett was instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous missions and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain John Jay Barrett (MCSN: 0-85356/1677903), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE (HMM-263), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 3 April 1969 Captain Barrett launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the mission of inserting a six-man reconnaissance team on a high ridge in a densely jungled, mountainous area two miles south of Thuong Duc in Quang Nam Province. Arriving over the designated area he maneuvered his aircraft to a hover above a small bomb crater and disembarked the patrol, which almost immediately came under intense automatic weapons fire and ground attack from a large North Vietnamese Army force, wounding one Marine and pinning down the team. Undaunted by the heavy volume of enemy fire directed against his helicopter, Captain Barrett boldly remained in his precarious position to attempt the embarkation of the Marines but was forced to lift out of the area when the increased intensity of North Vietnamese fire prevented the reconnaissance team from moving. Following air strikes and rocket and strafing runs by supporting aircraft which suppressed the hostile fire sufficiently to enable the beleaguered patrol to move thirty meters to a more suitable pickup site, Captain Barrett resolutely commenced his approach to extract the endangered Marines. At 500 feet above the landing zone, he came under intense North Vietnamese automatic weapons fire. Fearlessly continuing his descent into the hazardous area he skillfully maneuvered to a landing near the reconnaissance team, boldly remained in his dangerously exposed position in the fire-swept zone until the Marines had embarked, and then departed for An Hoa. By his courage, superior airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Captain Barrett was instrumental in saving the lives of six of his fellow Marines, and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.