You might remember a news story several
months ago about a crotchety old
man who defied his homeowners association and refused to take down the
flagpole on his property and the large flag that flew on it. Now you can
find out who, exactly, that old man was.
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VAN T. BARFOOT
A GREAT HERO
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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"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.
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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 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."
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