This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Edward Burke, II-Historian
to remember
Barrett, Stephen Clark, HM3.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Casualty Info
Home Town Troy, NY
Last Address Troy, NY
Casualty Date Jan 25, 1968
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Artillery, Rocket, Mortar
Location Quang Tri (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Memory's Garden Cemetery - Colonie, New York
A Marine Battalion Landing Team consists of an infantry battalion reinforced with helicopter, armor, artillery, engineer, and other supporting units and is housed afloat in Navy amphibious assault ships. In Vietnam the two BLTs functioned as self-contained rapid reinforcement forces and were commonly used ashore for extended periods of time. In January 1968 one of the two BLTs was BLT 3/1, built around the 3rd Bn, 1st Marines.
In mid-January the 803rd NVA Regiment had moved into the coastal area north of the Cua Viet River with the mission of disrupting the Navy's ability to use the river to support Allied forces operating further inland. The 803rd's 3rd Battalion had established company-sized fortifications in a number of hamlets along the river's northern bank. BLT 3/1 was given the mission of securing the north bank of the Cua Viet and was landed at the mouth of the Cua Viet with orders to clear the north bank for a distance of five miles inland.
The area involved was included in the 1st AMTRAC Battalion's Tactical Area of Operations and BLT 3/1 was placed under the operational control of 1st AMTRACs. The plan of action was to move east-to-west along the north bank, reducing the fortified hamlets in order while establishing a firm line of defense along the BLT's northern flank.
The first of the fortified hamlets was My Loc, which was assaulted on 25 January 1968 by Kilo Company, 3/1 Marines, supported by the BLT's tank platoon. The assault began at daybreak and fighting continued through much of the day before the NVA were forced from the hamlet. This engagement, the first in a series that ran to mid-February, cost the lives of five Americans:
C Co, 1st Tank Bn Pfc David P. Dodson, Atlanta, GA K Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Marines HM3 Stephen C. Barrett, Troy, NY Pfc Thomas E. Denhoff, Tampa, FL Pfc Bruce J. Fletcher, Eugene, OR Pfc Mitchell F. Silvers, Norwalk, CA
The last assault in the series was at Vinh Lai, on the southern bank of the Cua Viet, on 16 Feb 1968. When BLT 3/1 was withdrawn on 17 Feb, the BLT counted 47 dead and and 255 wounded Marines and sailors. The 803rd NVA Regiment had lost 376 known dead and 22 captured, and had been forced to withdraw to sanctuary in the Demilitarized Zone.
Stephen's Army brother Stanley is also going to be KIA in 1970
Comments/Citation:
Name of Award
Silver Star
Year Awarded
1968
Details behind Award:
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Stephen Clark Barrett (NSN: B-100742), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 25 January 1968 while serving as a Corpsman with Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with military operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. During Operation BADGER CATCH, Petty Officer Barrett's platoon was positioned as a blocking force near the village of Xom Con Tong in Quang Tri Province when the unit came under intense small arms fire. In the initial burst of fire, four Marines were seriously wounded, three of whom were lying in an exposed area. Completely aware of the dangers involved, Petty Officer Barrett unhesitatingly left the relative security of his position and, disregarding the enemy fire around him, maneuvered across thirty meters of fire-swept terrain to carry one wounded Marine to a position where he could administer medical aid. Undaunted by the continuing heavy volume of hostile fire, he again moved across the open, hazardous area to the side of the remaining casualties and, while assisting them to an area of relative safety, was painfully wounded in the leg. After rendering medical assistance to his wounded comrades, Petty Officer Barrett moved to the side of another injured Marine and administered first aid. Subsequently, while assisting in the evacuation of the wounded, he was again hit by enemy fire and fell mortally wounded. By his courage, unfaltering determination, and selfless devotion to duty, Petty Officer Barrett undoubtedly saved the lives of several companions. His heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: January 25, 1968
Service: Navy
Rank: Hospital Corpsman Third Class
Company: Corpsman (Attached), Company K
Battalion: 3d Battalion
Regiment: 1st Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade
