NT: A Story of Great Valor and Honor

[Catherine]

Head east from Carthage on Mississippi 16 toward Philadelphia and after a few miles a sign says you're in Edinburgh .

It's a good thing the sign is there, because there's no other way to tell.

On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburgh . Probably didn't make much news.

Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano , Italy , Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the 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 last week 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:

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:

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 moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machine gun 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 machine gun emplacement, and with his tommy gun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machine gun 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 tommy gun. 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 point blank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.?

[Bob Hoffman]

The information you get when you aren't looking! Truly inspiring. A great American.

[jainen]

>>the rules... <<

Those would, I presume, be the rules this war hero agreed to in writing, before he decided he didn't have to follow no stinkin' rules. The rules that maintain the character of the neighborhood he thought would be nice to live in. Sorry, I'm a veteran too but I don't like it when someone says their service means they don't have to get along with their neighbors or honor their agreements. It's not what I fought for, and not why I display the American flag.

[Lloyd Hudson]

I happen to have a home in an HOA that had flag rules. Solution..as soon as I bought the home I got elected to the board and appointed to the architectural committee. Immediately re-wrote the rules. Included the flag code. Problem solved.

[Jack from Ohio]

>>the rules... <<

Those would, I presume, be the rules this war hero agreed to in writing, before he decided he didn't have to follow no stinkin' rules. The rules that maintain the character of the neighborhood he thought would be nice to live in. Sorry, I'm a veteran too but I don't like it when someone says their service means they don't have to get along with their neighbors or honor their agreements. It's not what I fought for, and not why I display the American flag.

If our ancestors in the 1700s would have followed your logic, we would NOT have our country today.

Non-violent civil disobedience to get a law or regulation changed is part of the very fabric of our freedoms. If no one ever objects or takes action to bring it to other's attention, nothing will ever change!

[Slippery Pencil]

Those would, I presume, be the rules this war hero agreed to in writing, before he decided he didn't have to follow no stinkin' rules. The rules that maintain the character of the neighborhood he thought would be nice to live in. Sorry, I'm a veteran too but I don't like it when someone says their service means they don't have to get along with their neighbors or honor their agreements. It's not what I fought for, and not why I display the American flag.

Oh Jainen, you'll never persuade jingoists with logic.

[jainen]

>>If our ancestors in the 1700s would have followed your logic, we would NOT have our country today. <<

Well, I believe that's exactly the logic they DID follow. They said one person couldn't just come in and do whatever--everybody had to agree. They used an old Greek word to describe this theory, democracy.

[Catherine]

>>If our ancestors in the 1700s would have followed your logic, we would NOT have our country today. <<

Well, I believe that's exactly the logic they DID follow. They said one person couldn't just come in and do whatever--everybody had to agree. They used an old Greek word to describe this theory, democracy.

Except that we are NOT a democracy; we are a Constitutional Republic. There are important differences.

[JonesTaxPro]

I agree with Catherine. We are a Republic. The majority has been silent for too long, letting certain minority groups decide what should be done. I applaud this veteran. He is part of the silent majority that are taking back our country and doing what is right. Bring pride and honor and dignity, instead of apologizing and hiding.

[jainen]

>>we are NOT a democracy; we are a Constitutional Republic<<

Certainly. That is why the article says the neighborhood association was involved, not just individual opinions. But just like in government, it is easy to subvert the system by calling in the TV cameras. So that's what this patriot did--none of this American voting stuff for him. And nothing makes a better photo op than Old Glory.

[Gail in Virginia]

Whether we are a democracy, or a constitutional republic, or an associated of confederated states, unless the homeowner's association was founded after this man moved into this neighborhood I would assume he agreed to these covenants at the time he bought his house. If he doesn't like these rules, there are plenty of properties in areas that are not governed by restrictions agreed to by the homeowners. In fact, parts of the area I live in do not have any zoning ordinances and he could fly his flag from the tallest flagpole he can afford. This is not a matter of anti-US sentiment or a lack of patriotism - it is a matter of contract law. But like so many issues today, both sides are using emotional rhetoric rather than reasoned discussion to debate this issue.

[kcjenkins]

Well, I don't know the facts in this case, so I'm not going to take a side. But I do know that some times these 'rules' are adopted long after people move into an area. In which case Jainen's point is not so strong. Personally, I think any Medal Of Honor recipient should be allowed to fly the American flag as high as he wants to. But that's just MHO. Nor do I think the flag in that picture was excessively high or large. Of course, I admit I don't understand why anyone ever objects to the flying of our flag, unless it was one of those REALLY HUGE ones you see in some commercial locations.

[Slippery Pencil]

I don't understand why anyone ever objects to the flying of our flag

Some of us aren't shrills for the govt. We prefer peace and freedom vs the tyranny represented by a govt symbol.

[jainen]

>>why anyone ever objects to the flying of our flag<<

In my experience, this is an extremely common restriction in the CCR's of homeowner and neighborhood associations. They don't usually limit any particular flag, but all flags. Some people apparently find flags to be distracting both visually and with noise. While one might consider this to be an advantage in some settings, it may not fit in with the character of a quiet residential neighborhood.

Among many other wonderful freedoms, our flag stands for freedom of association and freedom to control private property so Americans have the right to self-determine many aspects of their own neighborhood. If someone doesn't like the neighborhood, then why ever would they want to live there? Why would they buy a house with a deed restriction that says they have to accept the neighborhood's current or future standards, if they don't want to be subject to that kind of rule? There's plenty of other great places to live.

Sure, a Medal of Honor winner should be allowed to fly the Flag. And he can. Anybody can.

[Catherine]

Some of us aren't shrills for the govt. We prefer peace and freedom vs the tyranny represented by a govt symbol.

The "tyranny" of the symbol is only because we the people have allowed the Federal gov't to usurp our, and our states', powers. They've crept in bit by bit since the days of Woodrow Wilson (a Constitution-hating tyrant wannabe; the more history I read the more loathsome he becomes).

This November we get a chance to FIRE the whole stinkin' lot of power-hungry, Constitution-ignoring egomaniacs in the House, and a third of the Senate. Both parties!! This is NOT about parties -- it's about usurpation of powers they are not entitled to. Dump your legis-critter and start feeling proud of what the US stands for again.

I prefer the Gadsden flag myself, but if a WW2 vet wants the Stars and Stripes, God bless him and may it make him proud to see it.

[kcjenkins]

Some of us aren't shrills for the govt. We prefer peace and freedom vs the tyranny represented by a govt symbol.

I certainly don't believe that our flag represents tyranny. Although if Pelosi and Reid keep on the path they have been on, we are certainly getting closer to it. But I believe that is going to change this fall.

[JonesTaxPro]

I certainly don't believe that our flag represents tyranny. Although if Pelosi and Reid keep on the path they have been on, we are certainly getting closer to it. But I believe that is going to change this fall.

KC - From your mouth to the voters pens:))