George Stewart Barnes

Master Sergeant, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Commander South Pacific Force and Area: Serial 724 (March 7, 1943)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant George S. Barnes (MCSN: 296601), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR (VMF-224), during the bombardment of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, by enemy Japanese surface and air forces on the night of 13 - 14 October 1942.
When a heavy enemy shell struck dangerously close to a bomb shelter, burying five Marines under a mass of earth and debris, Staff Sergeant Barnes, hearing cries for help, voluntarily exposed himself to the intense fire of hostile shells and bombs and, with several other men, set to work rescuing their imprisoned comrades. Due to the quick thinking and heroic efforts of Staff Sergeant Barnes and his companions, two of the buried men were saved, and the bodies of the other three Marines were recovered. His unswerving devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.