Gerald J. Barnicle’s Distinguished Service Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to

Gerald J. Barnicle

Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Bombardier and Gunner on a B-26 Medium Bomber of the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, 22d Bombardment Group (M), FAR EAST Air Force (Detached), in aerial action against enemy surface forces on 4 June 1942, during an engagement near Midway Island. Lieutenant Barnicle displayed extraordinary heroism during a torpedo-bombing mission against the Japanese Navy. The success of the mission was dependant entirely upon the skill, courageous and unfaltering devotion to duty of the crew members of the airplanes participating, who unhesitatingly entered into the attack at great personal risk to their own lives in the face of concentrated gunfire of the Japanese Naval forces and fighter planes. During this, the first torpedo attack ever carried out by the Army Air Forces, the airplane on which Lieutenant Barnicle was gunner and bombardier, was lost. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Barnicle on this occasion, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.