World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
James F. Barrett
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Detroit, Michigan
Honored By
Mildred Feeney
ENTERED ARMY IN 1942. SERVED AS A CAVALRY OFFICER IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE AND GERMANY. RECEIVED SILVER STAR FOR ACTIONS DURING AN AMBUSH BY GERMAN FORCES. WHILE DRIVING AN ARMORED VEHICLE AT THE HEAD OF A CONVOY, IT WAS ATTACKED. A SOLDIER BESIDE HIM WHO HAD BEEN FIRING A MACHINE GUN WAS KILLED BY ENEMY FIRE. HE TOOK OVER THE MACHINE GUN AND HELPED REPEL ENEMY FORCES. AFTER BEING WOUNDED IN THE HAND (MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE MACHINE GUN), HE BEGAN TO FIRE A PISTOL. ALLIED SOLDIERS CAPTURED THE POSITION AND MANY GERMAN TROOPS. IN ADDITION TO THE SILVER STAR, MILITARY DECORATIONS INCLUDED; TWO BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART AND ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL.