James Patrick Barrios
Specialist Four, U.S. Army

James Patrick Barrios was one of eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Pete Barrios of Santa Rosa Rancheria near Lemoore, CA. Although a native of Shasta County, he lived most of his life in Lemoore and attended Lemoore High School. James was a member of the Tachi Yokut Indian Tribe. He was a member of the Neighborhood Youth Corps before entering the Army.

On 12 January 1969, Specialist Four James Patrick Barrios was serving with 2nd Platoon, Company D, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, SPC4 Barrios was a machine gunner on a night patrol near Cai Nua in Dinh Tuong Province. A numerically-superior North Vietnamese Army force attacked the patrol and SPC4 Barrios was wounded in the leg by the first rocket-propelled grenade. Ignoring his injury, he went to a site directly in the path of the main enemy element. He and his assistant machine gunner, SPC4 Calvin Robinson, laid down a heavy barrage that turned back the first wave of the assault and enabled their comrades to move casualties and establish a defensive perimeter in a rice paddy dike. The North Vietnamese launched a renewed attack, but SPC4 Barrios and his assistant, SPC4 Robinson, continued to hold them off until an enemy rocket-propelled grenade struck their position, mortally wounding both of them. SPC4 Barrios' extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross. SPC4 Robinson was also awarded the DSC [Honoree Record ID: 273688].

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Specialist Fourth Class James Patrick Barrios (ASN: RA-18826326), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Barrios distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 12 January 1969 as a machine gunner on a night patrol near Cai Nua in Dinh Tuong Province. A numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force attacked the patrol and Specialist Barrios was wounded in the leg by the first rocket-propelled grenade. Disregarding his painful injury, he went to a site directly in the path of the main enemy element. He and his assistant machine gunner laid down a heavy barrage which turned back the first wave of the assault and enabled their comrades to move casualties and establish a defensive perimeter in a rice paddy dike. The determined North Vietnamese launched a renewed attack, but Specialist Barrios and his assistant continued to hold off the aggressors until an enemy rocket-propelled grenade struck their position, mortally wounding them both. Specialist Four Barrios' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Honors

The name James P Barrios is located on Panel W35 Line 74 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Specialist Four James Patrick Barrios is buried at the Tachi Indian Cemetery in Lemoore, Kings County, CA.