Van T. Barfoot Died

[MyBlackBeasts]

Van T. Barfoot died…
Remember the guy who wouldn't take the flag pole down on his Virginia property a while back? You might remember the news story several months ago about a crotchety old man in Virginia who defied his local Homeowners Association, and refused to take down the flag pole on his property along with the large American flag he flew on it. Now we learn who that old man was.

On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg, Texas . That probably didn't make news back then.

But twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano, Italy, that same Van T. Barfoot, who had in 1940 enlisted in the U.S. Army, set out alone to flank German machine gun positions from which gunfire was raining down on his fellow soldiers. His advance took him through a minefield but having done so, he proceeded to single-handedly take out three enemy machine gun positions, returning with 17 prisoners of war.



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And if that weren't enough for a day's work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.



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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 well deserved Congressional Medal of Honor.




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What did make news...Was hisNeighborhood Association's quibblewith how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the HOA rules said it was OK to fly a flag on a house-mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were "unsuitable".





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Van Barfoot had been denied a permit for the pole, but erected it anyway and was facing court action unless he agreed to take it down.


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Then the HOA story made national TV, and the Neighborhood Association rethought its position and agreed to indulge this aging hero who dwelt among them.



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"In the time I have left", he said to the Associated Press, "I plan to continue
to fly the American flag without interference."

As well he should.

And if any of his neighbors had taken a notion to contest him further, they might have done well to read his Medal of Honor citation first. Seems it
indicates Mr. Van Barfoot wasn't particularly good at backing down.


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WE ONLY LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE! AND, BECAUSE OF OLD MEN LIKE VAN BARFOOT!
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/us/van-barfoot-medal-of-honor-recipient-dies-at-92.html?_r=0

[Bigdogjim]

R.I.P. You have earned it, God Bless. :flag:

[Ms. Denmark]

Great story. I applaud his tenacity and courage of conviction whether facing enemy fire or stupid home owner's association rules. We need more like him. RIP Van Barfoot.

[Pat]

My spirit is greatly uplifted after reading his story.

[Bluerauder]

On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg, Texas . That probably didn't make news back then.

Correction ... he was born in Edinburg, Mississippi.

Here's the full citation from the Medal of Honor (MOH) ..... The machine gun positions and 17 captured are only half the story. Because the medal is presented "in the name of Congress", it is often erroneously referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor; however, the official name is simply the "Medal of Honor".

BARFOOT, VAN T.

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered service at: Carthage, Miss. Birth: Edinburg, Miss. G.O. No.: 79, 4 October 1944

Citation:
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 (then Tech. Sgt.) 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 pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

[sailsmen]

I assume the 21' flag pole will be placed on his grave.

They should make a movie about him titled American Shooter and then the left can tell us what a murderer he was.

[marauder21]

I assume the 21' flag pole will be placed on his grave.

They should make a movie about him titled American Shooter and then the left can tell us what a murderer he was.
Don't know if serious or joking..but a movie would be pretty cool

[Bob Mathis]

Being a Viet Nam vet. This store make 's me proud to be an American no matter what. See I have a 20' flag pole in my front yard and I fly my flag with pride every day. It would be very hard for some one to tell me to take my flag down. See I believe in the right to bear arms if you know what I mean.

This man was a true hero in my book. God bless him for standing up to others.

May he rest in peace.

[MyBlackBeasts]

Don't know if serious or joking..but a movie would be pretty cool

Was a sarcastic derogatory slam on the leftistis boobus ignoramis' treatment of Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle...

And spot on the mark too. :up: