Van T. Barfoot

Van T. Barfoot with the Medal of Honor

Van Thurman Barfoot (born June 15, 1919 in Edinburg , Leake County , Mississippi , † March 2, 2012 in Richmond , Virginia ) was an American colonel in the US Army , who on September 28, 1944 for his bravery as a technical sergeant in World War II was awarded the Medal of Honor , the US government's highest military honor .

Life

Barfoot began his military service in the US Army in 1940 and participated in World War II as a member of the 157th Field Artillery Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division .

On September 28, 1944, the Commander of the US 7th Army , Lieutenant General Alexander M. Patch , awarded him the Medal of Honor in Épinal , the US government's highest military honor. With this, the government paid tribute to his heroic act near the Italian city ​​of Carano as Technical Sergeant of the 3rd  Platoon of the L Company of the 3rd  Battalion of the 157th Field Artillery Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division on May 23, 1944: Armed with a bazooka , he went in immediate position in front of three advancing tanks of the German Wehrmacht and destroyed the chain of the leading tank with the first shot from a distance of almost 70 meters , putting it out of action. He then moved into the vicinity of enemy positions and destroyed a recently abandoned German command post with an explosive charge. On his march back to his unit, he helped two seriously wounded soldiers of the train over a distance of 1.5 kilometers to a safe shelter.

After the end of World War II, he remained in the US Army and also took part in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. For his missions there he was also honored with the Silver Star , the Bronze Star and three times the Purple Heart , the only award for wounded by the US armed forces .

In 1974 he was retired with the rank of colonel.

Web links

• Medal of Honor Recipient Van T. Barfoot Passes Away at 92 (marketwatch.com, March 2, 2012)