Don't Mess With Army Vets.... Especially MOH Winners From Mississippi!

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[MindBender26]

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!

[2ndDivisionVet]

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.

[MarineBrat]

[Citizen Tom Paine]

What a man!

[DCmarcher-976453]

John Wayne would be jealous of this real Hero.Amazing story!

[The Grammarian]

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.

[ansel12]

It is true, he was promoted to LT. that isn’t such a leap.

[seton89]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_T._Barfoot

[RWGinger]

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.

[IrishCatholic]

Snopes confirms it. Wikpedia has an entry on the man.
Good picture of him too.
God Bless him.

[Eagles6]

Just...DANG!

[Rappini]

George Patton said, It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.

[Vermont Lt]

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.

[gunnut]

In a war battlefield commissions were not uncommon especially with high casualty rates in combat.

[RWGinger]

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

[Islander7]

Magnolia State Ping!

We build 'em tough down south!

God Bless our Vets!

[OKSooner]

Well, especially never mess with an Army veteran if he's an MOH winner AND a member of the 45th Division "Thunderbirds":

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.

[STD]

shut yur piehole

[hoosier hick]

The Wiki article includes something omitted in the post: after it identifies him as “2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.)”.....

hh

[WKB]

Belated MS ping