The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Billy Eugene Barnett (ASN: RA-15414582), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Corporal Barnett distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Changyoung, Korea, on 16 September 1950. On this date, Corporal Barnett was with a patrol as forward observer when the patrol made contact with a unit of the enemy, entrenched and supported by mortars and machine-guns. The enemy suddenly delivered a volume of fire heavy enough to prevent the patrol from moving either forward or backward and making the patrol’s position untenable. Corporal Barnett realized that the patrol would be annihilated unless the men could withdraw. He left his position of relative safety end crawled to a point from which he could direct effective fire. The fire that he directed relieved the pressure on the patrol and permitted them to withdrew to a better position. Corporal Barnett refused to accompany them and with full knowledge of the peril, continued to screen his withdrawing comrades with fire. After the patrol was well out of danger, the enemy rushed Corporal Barnett’s position. He is credited with destroying at least five of them with his carbine and driving off the remainder in hand-to-hand combat. While still in position firing at the enemy he was hit by a mortar shell and instantly killed. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Corporal Barnett on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.