Col. Barfoot's Flag

[Blindjimme]

Gotta love it

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A 90-year-old Medal of Honor winner says he plans to fly Old Glory "without interference" for the rest of his life, now that his homeowners' association has dropped a demand to take down a 21-foot flagpole in his front yard.

Retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot read a statement Wednesday thanking people nationwide who backed his efforts to fly the American flag at his home.

Barfoot's comments came a day after the Sussex Square homeowners' association dropped threats of legal action. He had erected the flagpole in September, despite being denied permission to do so because it violated the neighborhood's aesthetic guidelines.

Barfoot received the Medal of Honor after standing up to three German tanks with a bazooka during World War II.


Somebody hand that man a cigar

[icehog3]

He has earned the right to floy Old Glory from a 210 foot flagpole is he so desires.

[bvilchez]

HOA is a headache sometimes. Things like that should never be questioned. HOA where I live would NEVER even dream of fighting us over something of this nature seeing that approximately 1/2 the community is active senior enlisted or retired military.


Col Barfoot I salute you

[replicant_argent]

I would like to think my short, yet tactful phone message to the president of the Sussex Square HOA had some smidgen of influence on the decision. I bet the guy received a few hundred or more calls, though.

[CBI_2]

This is Col. Barfoot's MOH Citation from http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html

BARFOOT, VAN T.

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered service at: Carthage, Miss. Birth: Edinburg, Miss. G.O. No.: 79, 4 October 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.

[G G]

A true American hero.

[hotreds]

HOORAH!