The Guy Who Would Not Take His Yard Flag Down
Remember the Guy that Wouldn't take the Flag down in
his yard?
On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg -- probably didn't
make much news back then.
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. All this did not make much news although it was almost as
a previous hero of WW-I, Sgt. York had done. Remember what he got from a
grateful nation? No! We don't tend to remember do we?
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.
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 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.
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 he's not real good at backing
down.
"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
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 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."
