Medal Of Honor Recipient! Colonel Van Barfoot
Italy, 23 May 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.
He can do this for his country and his soldiers, yet a home owners association in Virginia will not allow him to fly the American flag from a pole in his front yard.
He is a 90 year old WWII veteran! He’s earned the right to tell the HOA to… well… politely Stick it Where a Proctologist with 3 foot salad tongs would have a tough time accessing!!!
Comment from the Sussex Square Homeowner's Association :
"This is not about the American flag. This is about a flagpole... We are a neighborhood of patriotic Americans, many of whom have served our country in the military as Col. Barfoot has done.."
Uh… No!… MANY have NOT served this country AS Col. Barfoot has! Of the Millions who have served this country only ~ 3,400 have been awarded the Medal Of Honor!!! and many of those posthumously!!!
New law needs to pass… Medal of Honor Recipients can do whatever they damn well please!!!
Medal of Honor recipients should get the "Armagedon" deal. They should never have to pay taxes again.
Joe Foss (MoH, WWII, USMC Fighter Pilot) was stopped by the TSA after Sept 11th and told he could not board a passenger jet with his Medal of Honor. ...the Medal of Honor has "pointy" features & therefore could be used as a weapon. True, sadly true in the USA.
To the Suckex Square HOA: Your Patriotism is questionable and if those vet residents continue to back the HOA their service counts for nothing.
Posted by: Ken | December 03, 2009 at 08:44 PM