Van T. Barfoot and the Flag

Van T. Barfoot


Sunday, December 13, 2009

Head east from Carthage on Mississippi 16 toward Philadelphia and after a
few miles a sign says you're in Edinburg.

Its a good thing the signs 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.

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 days 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 associations 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 hes not real good at backing down.

Van T. Barfoot's Medal of Honor citation:

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 machine gun 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 machine gun emplacement, and with his
tommy gun 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 tommy gun. He continued onward into
enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German field piece 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.