Naval History and Heritage Command

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John Michael Barrett was born on March 14, 1920, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, son of John J. and Margaret O’Neil Barrett (both now deceased). He attended Loyola High School, Los Angeles, California, before his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, from the State of California in 1939. Graduated with the Class of 1943 on June 19, 1942 (course accelerated due to National Emergency) and commissioned Ensign, he subsequently advanced in rank to that of Rear Admiral, to date from July 1, 1969.

After receiving his commission on June 19, 1942, he was under instruction at the U.S. Naval Submarine School, New London, Connecticut, until December 1942, when he reported on board the USS Halibut (SS-232) as Gunnery Officer. In March 1944 he joined the USS Trepang (SS-412) as Executive Officer. For outstanding services while on board that vessel, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Bronze Star Medal. The citations follow in part:

Silver Star Medal: “…He contributed directly to the success of his ship in sinking two tankers and a destroyed and in severely damaging an enemy battleship…” during the First War Patrol, September 13 to October 23, 1944.

Navy and Marine Corps Medal: “For heroic conduct in effecting the rescue of a shipmate who had been washed overboard from the USS Trepang during the Third War Patrol of that vessel in enemy Japanese controlled waters on the night of February 28, 1945…”

Bronze Star Medal: “…He rendered invaluable assistance to his commanding officer in conducting successful attacks on enemy shipping, resulting in the sinking of four vessels totaling 35,000 tons, and in preventing enemy countermeasures…” during the Second War Patrol, November 16 to December 22, 1944.

Gold Star in lieu of Second Bronze Star: On the Fourth War Patrol, April 20 to May 22, 1945 “…he rendered valuable assistance to his commanding officer in conducting torpedo attacks which resulted in the sinking of two hostile freighter-transports and a destroyer or destroyer-escort, totaling 11,600 tons. In addition, he contributed materially to the damaging of a 100-ton enemy junk and to the success of the Trepang in evading hostile countermeasures…”

In October 1948 he became an All-Weather Carrier Pilot and Administrative Officer of Air Antisubmarine Squadron TWENTY-ONE, and in April 1949 assumed duties as Executive Officer of Air Submarine Squadron TWENTY-FIVE. He was Assistant Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander Carrier Division FIVE until July 1950, and Training Officer for the Fleet Airborne Electronic Training Unit, Pacific, from December 1950 to December 1951. He had duty at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, as Test Project Pilot until September 1952.

He was Executive Officer of the USS Sea Owl (SS-405) from December 1952 to November 1953 and assumed command of the USS Tirante (SS-420) the next month. In March 1956 he joined the Staff of the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, as Pro-Submarine Operations Officer, and in August 1957 began instruction in the Senior Course at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.

In August 1958 he joined the Staff of Commander Submarine Force, Pacific, as Force Personnel Officer, and in August 1960 became Commander Submarine Division SEVENTY-THREE. He was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., as Head Submarine Systems Requirements and Readiness Branch in August 1961 and transferred to the Special Projects Office, Bureau of Naval Weapons, Navy Department, as Head, Plans and Programs Branch in July 1963.

In May 1965 he became Prospective Commanding Officer of the latest POLARIS submarine tender, the USS Canopus (AS-34) and in August 1966 he became Commander Submarine Squadron SIXTEEN. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and was cited in part as follows: He “…contributed significantly to that Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine program and to its perfection as a forceful and deterrent power…”

He was ordered to duty as Commander Submarine Flotilla ONE in July 1967, and commanded the 48 ships and staffs of Submarine Flotilla ONE until July 1968. He next served as Chief of the Navy Section, Joint U.S. Military Mission for Aid to Turkey, with headquarters in Ankara and “for exceptionally meritorious service from August 1968 to July 1970…” was awarded the Legion of Merit.

In August 1970 he reported as Deputy Chief of Naval Material (Programs and Financial Management), Naval Material Command, Washington, D.C. and in February 1972 was assigned additional duty as Director of the Fiscal Management Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

In addition to the Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star and Combat “V”, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with bronze star, Rear Admiral Barrett has the American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with two silver stars; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Korean Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

Rear Admiral Barrett is a member of Kiwanis International.

He died in White Salmon, Washington on April 18, 2009.

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