Posted on 05/06/2010 3:08:10 PM PDT by MindBender26
Subject: Remember the Guy that Wouldn't take the Flag down?
Head east from Carthage on Mississippi 16 toward Philadelphia . After a few miles a sign says you're in Edinburg. It s a good thing the sign's there, because there's no other way to tell.
On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg -- probably didn't make much news back then.
Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano , Italy , Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the Army in 1940, set out to flank German machine gun positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers. He advanced through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions and returned with 17 prisoners of war.
If that wasn't enough for a day's work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.
That probably didn't make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a colonel after also serving in Korea and Vietnam , a Congressional Medal of Honor.
What did make news last week was a neighborhood association's quibble with how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the rules said a flag could be flown on a house-mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were unsuitable.
He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was facing court action if he didn't take it down. Since the story made national TV, the neighborhood association has rethought its position and agreed to indulge this old hero who dwells among them.
"In the time I have left I plan to continue to fly the American flag without interference," Barfoot told The Associated Press.
As well he should.
And if any of his neighbors still takes a notion to contest him, they might want to read his Medal of Honor citation.
It indicates he's not real good at backing down.
This 1944 Medal of Honor citation, listed with the National Medal of Honor Society, is for Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano , Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety.
Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of point blank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers."
My highest award was the Army Achievement Medal, which is nowhere near the MOH, but if you mess with him, you mess with me, and I’m not 90 nor am I frail.
What a man!
John Wayne would be jealous of this real Hero.Amazing story!
Is this even a real story? What newspaper was this originally sourced from?
I have my doubts about the veracity of the story. The MoH citation refers to him both as a Sergeant and a Second Lieutenant, and the text itself seems too ‘chatty’ in tone for what I would expect from a newspaper.
It is true, he was promoted to LT. that isn’t such a leap.
This story was in my paper, dallas, over a week ago.
As far as the 2 ranks, I guess you didn’t know enlisted people can become officers.
Just...DANG!
George Patton said, It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
This guy’s “brave” and my “brave” are combined and that’s what you call “average” brave.
And he probably never really talked about it much.
Truly amazing.
In a war battlefield commissions were not uncommon especially with high casualty rates in combat.
exactly
he fought in 3 wars, a battlefield commission would be likely OR he could have even applied and gone to OCS before Korea.
People like Grammerian who doubt heroes like this man exist make me sick
We build 'em tough down south!
God Bless our Vets!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/45th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10006163
http://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/
The "Thunderbird" insignia was inspired by a Native American legend about the bird who brings thunder, the "Thunderbird". As part of the legend tells it, anyone who lays eyes upon the Thunderbird dies.
The legend was proven true by the Germans who met them in Italy and France, and (rumor has it) especially the SS troops who met them at Dachau.
Oh yeah, The 45th is still an active unit, "downsized" or whatever the Army calls it to a Brigade. Many 45th Brigade units are serving in Afghanistan today, where no doubt many Taliban @$$holes have also laid their eyes upon the Thunderbird.
shut yur piehole
The Wiki article includes something omitted in the post: after it identifies him as “2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.)”.....
hh
Belated MS ping
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