David Dean Barrett | |
|---|---|
 Colonel Barrett with Mao Zedong | |
| Born | August 6, 1892 Central City, Colorado |
| Died | February 3, 1977 San Francisco, California |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | Thirty-five |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands | U.S. Army Observation Group to Yan'an |
| Awards | Legion of Merit |
David Dean Barrett (August 6, 1892 – February 3, 1977) was an American soldier, a diplomat, and an old Army China hand. Barrett served more than 35 years in the U.S. Army, almost entirely in China. Barrett was part of the American military experience in China, and played a critical role in the first official contact between the Chinese Communist Party and the United States government. He commanded the 1944 U.S. Army Observation Group, also known as the Dixie Mission, to Yan'an, China. However, his involvement in the Dixie Mission cost him promotion to general, when Presidential Envoy Patrick Hurley falsely accused Barrett of undermining his mission to unite the Communists and Nationalists.