FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Van Thomas Barfoot ~ 02 February 2026

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Van Thomas Barfoot
Story from this website.

           

Van T. Barfoot (June 15, 1919 - March 2, 2012) 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!

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

[PROCON]

Quite a career for tonight’s Hero, served both as Enlisted and as an Officer, thanks for tonight’s Canteen, Kathy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Van Thomas Barfoot ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...managing the COLD?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...he had an interesting career for sure.

[Feckless]

His son was my commander in ‘85/86 during a six month deployment to the Sinai. Great commander, especially for an Aviator. Never knew about his dad.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

I’m managing the cold just fine - - by staying inside. LOL Not as bad today as yesterday was but still cold. Definitely ready for low 40s tomorrow.

It looks like your snow is doing what ours did yesterday and last night. It’s been showing on the radar a little while but isn’t reaching the ground. GOOD!

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

How it going for ya, other than it being warmer than it is here? LOL I hope your week’s been a good one.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Feckless, and thanks for sharing. We thank you and your wife for your service to our country.

[PROCON]

Hiya radu, just another lazy weekend my way, didn't do anything except tell the liberals on FB how stupid they are, it's always a fun time, LOL! (A favorite pastime of mine!)

We have warmed up a bit, did you get some cold weather?

[Kathy in Alaska]

...but isn’t reaching the ground.

Hope this stays true.

[Kathy in Alaska]

radu!!

1st!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Pro!!

2nd!!

[radu]

LOL! I’m sure you do a bang-up job going after them. It would be fun to watch you in action but I don’t do FB.

We sure HAVE had some cold weather down here! Ice storm last weekend and it’s been a freezer ever since. Today’s the end of it for a while, thank goodness. 40s this week and 50s next week.
NC got it real bad yesterday and last night, and temps in southern FL were way below freezing. All the cold air is over here. :-(

[Kathy in Alaska]

Feckless!!

3rd!!

[radu]

It’s been holding so far. I’ve had the cam up for a while and no snow yet. The little system is almost past now so you’re good ... for now.

It was pretty up there earlier today. Lots of sunshine until mid-afternoon.

[luvie]

2nd Lt. Van T. Barfoot
June 15, 1919 - March 2, 2012
Retired United States Army officer
And Medal of Honor Recipient
—for his actions in World War II.
What a hero he was!

U.S. Army Hymn

[luvie]

IN HONOR OF THE BEAUTIFUL FULL MOON
IT'S THE SNOW MOON OF FEBRUARY

Benny Goodman Sextet~How High The Moon

Craig Chaquico/Russ Freeman~Samba Del Luna

Glenn Miller~Moonlight Serenade

Gregg Karukas~Moonlit Breeze

Butch Helemano~Lover's Moon

Miner~Paper Moon

Neil Young~Harvest Moon