JOHN A. BARNES III MEDAL OF HONOR GRAVESTONE

PFC. BARNES DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY EXCEPTIONAL HEROISM WHILE ENGAGED IN COMBAT AGAINST HOSTILE FORCES. DURING THE BATTLE PFC. BARNES OBSERVED AN ENEMY GRENADE THROWN INTO THE MIDST OF SOME SEVERELY WOUNDED PERSONAL CLOSE TO HIS POSITION. REALIZING THAT THE GRENADE COULD FURTHER INJURE OR KILL THE MAJORITY OF THE WOUNDED PERSONNEL, HE SACRIFICED HIS LIFE BY THROWING HIMSELF DIRECTLY ONTO THE HAND GRENADE AS IT EXPLODED. PFC. BARNES’ EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM, AND INTREPIDITY AT THE COST OF HIS LIFE, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, ARE IN THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, HIS UNIT AND THE U.S. ARMY.