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 First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) John F. Bariani (ASN: 0-1185434), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 216th Field Artillery Battalion, 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, Germany, on 31 March 1945. When an outpost of an infantry unit reported two enemy machine guns emplaced to the front, Lieutenant Bariani, a forward observer, voluntarily made his way ahead of our lines and to a position within fifty yards of the enemy guns when he was pinned down by enemy fire, and an enemy rocket-launcher team moved toward him. He waited until the team neared his position, then directed artillery fire which destroyed the rocket launcher and its crew. Remaining in his forward position, he directed artillery fire in the destruction of the enemy machine gun emplacements before returning to his original position. Lieutenant Bariani’s bravery, coolness under fire, and accurate fire direction, honor his character as an officer.