The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Homer E Barnes (ASN: 32679562), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action on 22 September 1944 in France. Just before dawn on 22 September, a large group of enemy soldiers infiltrated behind the friendly lines, overpowered the guard and assaulted Company A’s command post. Bitter hand-to-hand fighting ensued, and Private First Class Barnes, guarding his radio, struggled with several of the enemy. When one of the hostile soldiers opened fire at close range with a machine pistol, he was mortally wounded by the burst of fire. Aware of the peril to other friendly units should his radio fall into enemy hands, Private First Class Barnes determined to destroy it. Although partially paralyzed by his wound, he grasped a hand grenade, placed it under the radio and exploded it, successfully destroying the radio before he died.