FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Van Thomas Barfoot ~ 31 August 2020

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Van Thomas Barfoot
Story from this website.

           

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.

Barfoot was born on June 15, 1919, in Edinburg, Mississippi. His grandmother was Choctaw, but Barfoot himself was never an official member of the Choctaw Nation; although he was eligible, his parents had never enrolled him.

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, which he served with until it was deactivated in 1943. He next joined the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, and was sent to Europe.

As part of 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. There they set up defensive positions and, for several weeks, 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 conducted, he knew the layout of 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 destroying 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. After clearing the area, Barfoot had captured a total of seventeen German soldiers.

When the Germans launched an armored counterattack later in the day, Barfoot disabled one tank with a bazooka, advanced into enemy-held territory, and destroyed an abandoned German artillery piece. He then returned to his own lines and helped two wounded soldiers from his squad to the rear.

Barfoot was subsequently commissioned as a second lieutenant. His unit moved into France and by September was serving in the Rhone valley. It was there that Barfoot learned he would be awarded the Medal of Honor. He chose to have the presentation ceremony in the field, rather than in the United States, 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.

Barfoot reached the rank of colonel before retiring from the Army.

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

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[lightman]

Thanks for another inspiring story!

Stand strong and stay safe.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, lightman...you’re welcome.

Staying strong and safe.

Hope all is well with you and yours.

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

August 31

The Servant Hears

Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 132–134
• 1 Corinthians 11:17–34

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3:10 Had the wireless radio been on, they would have known the Titanic was sinking. Cyril Evans, the radio operator of another ship, had tried to relay a message to Jack Phillips, the radio operator on the Titanic—letting him know they had encountered an ice field. But Phillips was busy relaying passengers’ messages and rudely told Evans to be quiet. So Evans reluctantly turned off his radio and went to bed. Ten minutes later, the Titanic struck an iceberg. Their distress signals went unanswered because no one was listening.

In 1 Samuel we read that the priests of Israel were corrupt and had lost their spiritual sight and hearing as the nation drifted into danger. “The word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions” (1 Samuel 3:1). Yet God wouldn’t give up on His people. He began to speak to a young boy named Samuel who was being raised in the priest’s household. Samuel’s name means “the Lord hears”—a memorial to God’s answering his mother’s prayer. But Samuel would need to learn how to hear God.

“Speak, for your servant is listening” (v. 10). It’s the servant who hears. May we also choose to listen to and obey what God has revealed in the Scriptures. Let’s submit our lives to Him and take the posture of humble servants—those who have their “radios” turned on.

By:  Glenn Packiam Reflect & Pray

Why is it vital for you to obey what God has revealed in Scripture? How can you stay “tuned in” to His voice?

Dear Jesus, thank You for being a speaking God. Thank You for the Scriptures that help me follow You in obedience. Speak, Your servant is listening.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[lightman]

Doing pretty well for the shape we’re all in.

Getting to the age and stage when former co-workers begin to develop serious health problems, including COVID.

The prayer list keeps getting longer.

[mountainlion]

It is hard to imagine doing such daring feats.

[PROCON]

Thanks Kathy, Mr./Col. Barfoot was an amazing Hero, RIP Sir.

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...(HUGS))...any better weather today?

We didn’t have any wind issues on my side of town until now...the wind is coming up now and the sky is getting lower and lower.

[left that other site]

Today was GORGEOUS. I rode from about 11:00 to 4:oo, and then went over to my sister’s house. Then the two of us (in her car) went to Plymouth to eat and hear some live music. Then we went to the Waterfront and did the “Tourist Thing”.

There were lots of people around, but not nearly as many as there should have been for the 400th Anniversary of the Pilgrims Landing.

I bought a souvenir hoodie just to help out small business.

[SES1066]

One of my father's very good friends in the 45th, a fixture at every reunion until his passing in 2012. I sat with him and my dad, Ed, 2007 at the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel for the Memorial Service of the 157th Infantry Regiment. It was the year that General Felix Sparks, a one time commander of many of them had died and both were speaking at the service.

What made me furious was that he was wearing the neck ribbon & MoH medal but with civilian clothes. While I am certain that he asked the USAFA Administration for no honors, as he was a modest man, multiple cadets, unassociated and just transiting the area, failed to take notice. In the time since then I have come to a more charitable conclusion, that ALL cadets were informed at morning assembly that day and told not to 'see' it.

There is another story of more recent vintage about Col Barfoot that involved his desire to fly an American Flag at his home in Virginia. In 2009, at age 89, his family moved him into a small, new residence for easy maintenance but also independence. His single request (demand) was a flagpole in his yard to do daily duty as had been his retired life habit. Well that request became a 21 ft flagpole and (you guessed it) the Homeowners Association (HOA) demanded its removal as it 'detracted' from the the curb appeal of the neighborhood.

There was a legal battle going on but the Colonel had good reinforcement to help him. His comrades from the 157th, the 45th Infantry Division Association and news media and, eventually, Virginia US Senator Mark Warner. When the dust settled, Col Barfoot kept his tradition, the HOA got a lesson and there was even a change in Virginia State Law with better protection for US Flag Display!

Thank you Kathy for this Canteen Post and my trip down memory lane. I imagine that almost all of my Dad's WW2 comrades and most of the Korean War ones are gone and serving above. Anyone who dug-in at Anzio can echo to St Pete, that ditty about having already served their time in Hades!

For those whose interest I may have aroused, Alex Kershaw wrote an excellent book on General Felix Sparks, "The Liberator" and there is an excellent book on the 45th Infantry Division by Flint Whitcock, "The Rock of Anzio".

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Hope you got some good rest and are ready to take on the new week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Van Thomas Barfoot ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayer lists have a habit of doing that at times in life.

Do you still have your fellow chanters?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, mountainlion...another hero for sure.

Did you get any liquid sunshine? It has just started here in fits and starts.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

It looks like it’s raining on the city at last after a pretty start to the day. At least the wind hasn’t been 80 mph that I’ve seen so far. Pretty breezy but not so bad the seaplanes haven’t been able to fly.

Have you had a restful weekend?

[luvie]

Van Van Thomas Barfoot
born June 15, 1919
Retired United States Army officer
Medal of Honor Recipient
—for his actions in World War II.
God bless this brave hero!

U S Army Hymn

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

A brave hero, he certainly was.

I hope your day was a good one. Any chance your temps have cooled a little?