The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Ora Earl Barratt, Jr. (MCSN: 1139818), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as an Automatic Rifleman in Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on the night of 10 June 1951. When his unit, hampered by heavy fog and approaching darkness, had withdrawn from a hill to reorganize and resume their attack on the following day, Private first Class Barratt quickly realized that several wounded men still lay in positions swept by intense hostile fire and, courageously moving forward up the slope, placed himself between the casualties and the enemy in order to lay down a base of fire behind which the wounded could be evacuated. Delivering heavy and accurate fire on the hostile positions, he succeeded in distracting the enemy and permitting the casualties to reach safety before he himself fell, mortally wounded. By his daring initiative, valiant fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty in the face of insurmountable odds, Private First Class Barratt was responsible in a great measure for saving many of his comrades and thereby upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.