You might remember a news story from December, 2009 ago about a crotchety
Old man who defied his homeowners association and refused to take down
The flagpole on his property and the large flag that flew on it. Now you can
Find out who, exactly, that old man was.
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 US 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 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.
Van T. Barfoot’s Medal of Honor citation:
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2625/barfoot-van-t.php
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:
WE ONLY LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE…
BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE! AND, BECAUSE OF OLD MEN
LIKE VAN BARFOOT!
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