Henrico Medal of Honor recipient, 90, ordered to remove flagpole

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | 12/2/09 | Staff

[StarCMC]

Col. Van T. Barfoot, a local Medal of Honor recipient, is under the gun from his Henrico County community's homeowner association.

In a five-paragraph letter to Barfoot that he received yesterday, Barfoot is being ordered to remove a flagpole from his yard. The decorated veteran of three wars, now 90 years old, raises the American flag every morning on the pole, then lowers and folds the flag at dusk each day in a three-corner military fashion.

...

There is no provision in the community's rules expressly forbidding flagpoles, Barfoot's daughter said. But she said the board ruled against her father's fixture and ordered it removed in July, deciding that free-standing flag poles are not aesthetically appropriate. Short flag stands attached to porches dot the community.

"Dad sort of feels like this is the end," said Margaret Nicholls, Barfoot's daughter, who lives a few doors away. But she said this morning that she and her husband are attempting to generate support for her father's cause, a flag-raising rite that he has undertaken for most of his life.

[StarCMC]

Here's the man's citation -- looks like they could get a clue and leave him alone. Barfoot received the Medal of Honor on the battlefield during World War II in Italy and fought as well in the Korean and Vietnam wars. A portion of a highway in rural Mississippi, his native state, was named in his honor this fall. A building at McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond also carries his name.

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.

[StarCMC]

Canteen ping — will tick you off to no end.

[Sacajaweau]

Power can be a terrible thing. I hope that those who voted against this gentlemen get fleas....like several times in the next few years.

[samtheman]

Tonight, the Sussex Square Homeowners Association issued a statement reiterating its position that Barfoot directly violated the association board's denial of his request to erect a flagpole.

I can't believe their digging their heels in on this. What disgusting wretches.

[fatnotlazy]

“...the board ruled against her father's fixture and ordered it removed in July, deciding that free-standing flag poles are not aesthetically appropriate.”

***

The board is probably made up of socialist democrats who never served in a war or even personally know someone who has, let alone a Metal of Honor winner like Mr. Barfoot. Since when is a flag ever aesthetically inappropriate?

Douche-bags, all.

[pnh102]

This is what happens when we do not bully and mock those children who think that not saying the Pledge of Allegiance is a good idea. They grow up into anti-US @$$holes who want to ban flags.

And yes, that's what they want to do.

[pnh102]

Since when is a flag ever aesthetically inappropriate?

The commies would probably have no problem with someone burning a flag or flying it upside down.

[mountainlion]

These are the same type of John Kerry traitors that want Veterans labeled as Baby killers, war criminals and if they can get them in a “flag violation” so much the better for them. My Drill Sargent would call them Whale S***t which is on the bottom of the ocean.

[eartrumpet]

Does anyone know an email address for said Sussex Square Homeowners Association? Maybe a few gentle reminders are in order.

[DesertRhino]

Can’t wait for the defenders of the associations,,,love these threads,,

[Behemoth the Cat]

"“...the board ruled against her father's fixture and ordered it removed in July, deciding that free-standing flag poles are not aesthetically appropriate.”

I find this HOA aesthetically inappropriate.

[StarCMC]

Found this:

Karen S. Peterson
Attorney-at-Law
Coates & Davenport, P.C.
5206 Markel Road, Suite 200
Richmond VA 23230

A letter written to the board by Sen. Jim Webb is here: http://nbc12.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/webb-sends-letter-to-hoa-in-defense-of-barfoot/

[MSF BU]

It would be interesting to go person by person through this board and look at the background of each of these folks who are making up this decision. My guess is intitially zero veterans, but I may be wrong.

[concretebob]

Thank you for posting this.
FWIW, Mark Alexander did a nice write-up in the Patriot Post.
Were it not for my current physical limitations, I would already have video and whatever else I thought appropriate uploaded.
Col Barfoot is reportedly the most decorated living veteran in America.

[GnuHere]

There’s a little info toward bottom of this thread - there have been multiple threads on this (good!), so I don’t know what the others contain:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2398884/posts

[My Favorite Headache]

I heard about this story the other day. These “associations” are nothing but greedy power trip filled commies if you ask me. I laugh in their face and tear up their letters when they try to tell me I painted my door the wrong color or didn’t get permission to trim my tree that short.

EAT S-HIT! I tell them. I make them spend a bunch of money on lawyers to send out letters and then wind up winning on votes in the quarterly meeting anyway :)

[B Knotts]

HOAs are de facto government bodies, and should be subject to constitutional restrictions.

[StarCMC]

Found this too: ( http://www.nissanoffroad.net/messageboard/index.php?topic=7831.msg91799 )

Call and or fax Coates & Davenport, the law firm representing the home owner association.

FLOOD THEM WITH CALLS!!

Coates & Davenport
5206 Markel Road, Suite 200
Richmond VA 23230
Toll Free: (800) 450-8311
Local Phone: (804) 285-7000
General Fax: (804) 285-2849
Real Estate Fax: (804) 285-3426

You can also visit their site and send them a message http://www.coateslaw.com/CM/Custom/Contact.asp.

Please spread this around like wildfire!

If anyone has the contact info for the homeowner association please put it up and I’ll put it in the post directly.

In closing, I’ll leave you with a quote from the Colonel’s daughter Margaret:

“Dad sort of feels like this is the end.”

Copyright © 2009 Common Sense from a Common Man - All Rights Reserved

More Info:

The Colonel’s address if you want to thank him for his service:
Van T Barfoot 11815 Coat Bridge Ln, Richmond, VA 23238

The Home Owners Association if you want to call them:
SUSSEX SQUARE SERVICE HOA at 804-740-8795

[Liberty Valance]

I’d say burn down the Homeowners association President’s house ... but that wouldn’t be right either.

[ripley]

One wonders what the real issue is here.

(It sure isn’t about a flagpole.)

IMHO