Van T. Barfoot
Published:
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 theres no other way to tell.
On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was
born in Edinburg. Probably didnt 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 wasnt enough for a days work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.
That probably didnt 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 Barfoots 21-foot flagpole
were unsuitable.
He
had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was facing court action if he didnt 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. Barfoots 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. Barfoots
extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of point
blank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow
soldiers.
Rules
for Kickin' Ass
Rules
for the Non-Military
Make
sure you read #13
Dear
Civilians, 'We know that the current state of affairs in
our great nation has many civilians up in arms and
excited to join the military.
For
those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand.
Here are a few of the areas where we would like your
assistance:
1.
The next time you see any adults talking (or wearing a
hat) during the playing of the National
Anthem - kick their ass.
2..
When you witness, firsthand, someone burning
the American Flag in protest - kick their
ass.
3.
Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay
the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you
see anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and
explain how these veterans fought for the very freedom
they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the
many sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation
great. Then hold them down while a disabled veteran
kicks their ass.
4.
If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that
you were. Wearing battle dress
uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others
that you used to be 'Special
Forces'.
Collecting GI Joe memorabilia,
might have been okay when you were seven years old, now,
it will only make you look stupid and get your ass
kicked.
5.
Next time you come across an *Air Force* member, do not
ask them, 'Do you fly a jet?' Not everyone in the Air
Force is a pilot. Such ignorance deserves an
ass-kicking (children are exempt).
6.
If you witness someone calling the *US Coast Guard*
'non-military', inform them of their mistake - and kick
their ass.
7.
Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a
parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by
placing your hand over your heart. Quietly thank the
military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying
her - of course, failure to do either of those could
earn you a severe ass-kicking.
9.
'Your mama wears combat boots' never made sense to
me - stop saying it! If she did, she would most
likely be a vet and therefore would kick your
ass!
10.
'Flyboy' (*Air Force*), 'Jarhead' (*Marines*), 'Grunt'
(*Army*), 'Squid' (*Navy*), 'Puddle Jumpers' (*Coast
Guard*), etc., are terms of endearment we use describing
each other. Unless you are a service member or
vet, you have not earned the right to use them. Using
them could get your ass kicked..
11.
Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member
of the military, support our troops and their families.
Every Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy
with family and friends, please remember that there are
literally thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and
airmen far from home wishing they could be with their
families. Thank God for our military and the sacrifices
they make every day. Without them, our Country would get
it's ass kicked.
12.
'It's the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us
the freedom of the press.'
'It's
the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom
of speech.'
'It's
the Veteran, not the community organizer, who gives us
the freedom to demonstrate.'
'It's
the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath
the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who
allows the protester to burn the
flag.'
AND
ONE MORE:
13.
If you ever see anyone singing the national anthem in
Spanish - KICK THEIR ASS.
ONE
LAST THING:
If you got this email and didn't pass it
on - guess what - you deserve to get your ass
kicked!
I
sent this to you, because I didn't want to get my ass
kicked.
WE
LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
BRAVE!
IN
GOD WE TRUST
Liberty
by Greek philosopher Plato
To permanently restore American
“I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to
reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal
them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed in their
purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden.
I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is 'needed' before I have first determined
whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' interests, I shall reply that I was informed their
main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can.”