The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Fireman Second Class Edward Barrett, United States Navy, for gallant and heroic conduct while serving on board the U.S.S. Alaska at Callao Bay, Peru, 14 September 1881. Following the rupture of the stop-valve chamber, Fireman Second Class Barrett courageously hauled the fires from under the boiler of that vessel.