The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Specialist Fourth Class James Patrick Barrios (ASN: RA-18826326), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Barrios distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 12 January 1969 as a machine gunner on a night patrol near Cai Nua in Dinh Tuong Province. A numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force attacked the patrol and Specialist Barrios was wounded in the leg by the first rocket-propelled grenade. Disregarding his painful injury, he went to a site directly in the path of the main enemy element. He and his assistant machine gunner laid down a heavy barrage which turned back the first wave of the assault and enabled their comrades to move casualties and establish a defensive perimeter in a rice paddy dike. The determined North Vietnamese launched a renewed attack, but Specialist Barrios and his assistant continued to hold off the aggressors until an enemy rocket-propelled grenade struck their position, mortally wounding them both. Specialist Four Barrios’ extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.