Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Awarded on:

July 30th, 1944

"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action, on 4 June 1944, in Rome, Italy. The assault section commanded by Sergeant Barlow encountered fierce resistance from an enemy force in strongly prepared emplacements along a railroad embankment. The street along which Sergeant Barlow and his men advanced was swept by close range from enemy machine guns, machine pistols, rifles and tank guns. Noticing that intense and accurate sniper fire from Germans behind a stone wall was causing casualties among his men, Sergeant Barlow ran to the wall, jumped to the top and fired his submachine gun at the snipers, killing four of them. As he fired from this exposed position, a bullet struck his weapon, destroying it and wounding him painfully in the hand. Refusing treatment for his wound, he secured a rifle and returned to the action. Shouting encouragement to his men, Sergeant Barlow fired his rifle with deadly effect into the enemy positions. He was struck in the neck by a bullet, but undaunted, he continued to fire until his supply of ammunition was exhausted. Seeing that the ammunition of the entire section was depleted, and not wishing to sacrifice his men, he directed the withdrawal of his group. Without ammunition and suffering from his wounds, he remained in a forward, exposed position until the last of his men had withdrawn to safety. Still refusing treatment for his wounds, Sergeant Barlow led his men over another route of approach and remained in front of them through several more encounters until the objective was taken. Sergeant Barlow's courageous fighting spirit inspired his entire regiment to aggressive and determined action in its drive on the city of Rome."

Headquarters: Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 129