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'''Van T. Barfoot''' (born June 15, 1919) is a retired [[United States Army]] officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration — the [[Medal of Honor]] — for his actions in [[World War II]] |
'''Van T. Barfoot''' (born June 15, 1919) is a retired [[United States Army]] officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration — the [[Medal of Honor]] — for his actions in [[World War II]] as [[Captain America]] |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
Revision as of 19:42, 4 December 2009
Van T. Barfoot | |
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File:VanTBarfootCMOH.jpg;;![]() Van T. Barfoot, Medal of Honor recipient | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1940-1974 |
Rank | Colonel |
Unit | 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War[1] Vietnam War[2] |
Awards | Medal of Honor Silver Star Bronze Star Purple Heart |
Van T. Barfoot (born June 15, 1919) is a retired United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II as Captain America
Biography
Barfoot was born on June 15, 1919, in Edinburg, Mississippi.[3] His grandmother was Choctaw, but Barfoot himself is not an official member of the Choctaw Nation. Although he was eligible, his parents had never enrolled him.[4]
After enlisting in the Army from Carthage, Mississippi, in 1940 and completing his training, Barfoot served with the 1st Infantry Division in Louisiana and Puerto Rico. In December 1941, he was promoted to sergeant and re-assigned to the Headquarters Amphibious Force Atlantic Fleet in Quantico, Virginia, where he served until the unit was deactivated in 1943. He next joined the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, and was shipped to Europe.[4]
During the Italian Campaign, Barfoot participated in a series of amphibious landings: the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the invasion of mainland Italy at Salerno in September, and finally the landings at Anzio in late January 1944. His unit pushed inland from Anzio, and by May 1944 had reached the town of Carano. They set up defensive positions and Barfoot conducted patrols to scout the German lines. When his company was ordered to attack on the morning of May 23, Barfoot, now a technical sergeant, asked for permission to lead a squad. Because of the patrols he had made, he knew the terrain and the minefield which lay in front of the German position. He advanced alone through the minefield, following ditches and depressions, until he came within a few yards of a machine gun on the German flank. After taking out the gun with a hand grenade, he entered the German trench and advanced on a second machine gun, killing two soldiers and capturing three others. When he reached a third gun, the entire crew surrendered to him. Others also surrendered and Barfoot captured a total of seventeen German soldiers. He had killed 8.[4]
When the Germans launched an armored counterattack later in the day, Barfoot disabled one tank with a bazooka, then advanced into enemy-held territory and destroyed an abandoned German artillery piece. He returned to his own lines and helped two wounded soldiers from his squad to the rear.[4]
Barfoot was subsequently commissioned as a second lieutenant. His division moved into France and by September was serving in the Rhone valley. Barfoot learned he would be awarded the Medal of Honor and chose to have the presentation ceremony in the field, so that his soldiers could attend. He was formally presented with the medal on September 28, 1944, in Épinal, France, by Lieutenant General Alexander Patch.[4]
Barfoot is one of the country's last living World War II veterans who received the Medal of Honor. He also served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War and earned a Purple Heart. He reached the rank of colonel before retiring from the Army.[5] He currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, near his daughter. On October 9, 2009, the portion of Mississippi Highway 16 which runs from Carthage through his hometown of Edinburg to the border between Leake and Neshoba counties was named the "Van T. Barfoot Medal Of Honor Highway".[6]
Medal of Honor citation
Second Lieutenant Barfoot's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
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.[7]
Flag controversy
In December 2009, the homeowners' association (HOA) of the Sussex Square, where Barfoot lives in Henrico County, Virginia, ordered him to remove the flagpole from which he flies the American flag. The HOA retained a lawyer to help enforce their order. The association's bylaws do not forbid flagpoles, but the HOA ruled Barfoot, aged 90, would not be allowed to use it "for aesthetic reasons". Barfoot is contesting the order.[8][9]
See also
References
- Inline
- ^ "Decorated Veteran, 90, Fights to Raise Flag in His Yard". Fox News. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
He also served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War and earned a Purple Heart.
- ^ Angela Pellerano (2 December 2009). "Local World War II Veteran Fights Homeowner's Association". WTVR. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
Wounded in combat three times, Barfoot fought in World War II and in Vietnam.
- ^ Edinburg (ZIP Code 39051) is a small, unincorporated community in Leake County, Mississippi, about 12 miles (19 km) east of Carthage. (32°47′56″N 89°20′10″W / 32.799°N 89.336°W)
- ^ a b c d e Collier, Peter (2006). Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty. New York: Workman Publishing Company. p. 16. ISBN 9781579653149.
- ^ "Full List of Living Recipients". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ^ "Van T. Barfoot Medal Of Honor Highway named". Jackson, Mississippi: WLBT. October 9, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
- ^ "Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (A-F)". Medal of Honor Citations. U.S. Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ^ Bill McKelway (December 2, 2009). "Henrico Medal of Honor Winner, 90, ordered to remove flagpole". Richmond Times Dispatch.
- ^ Chen Sampson, Zinie (December 3, 2009). "WWII Medal of Honor Winner Faces Suit Over Flag-Flying". The Virginian-Pilot via The Associated Press. p. 1.
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- 1919 births
- Living people
- Choctaw people
- People from Mississippi
- United States Army officers
- American military personnel of World War II
- Recipients of the Combat Infantryman Badge
- Army Medal of Honor recipients
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- Recipients of the Purple Heart medal
- Légion d'honneur recipients
- Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France)
- Native American military personnel