Colonel Van Thomas Barfoot, A Soldier's Story
.png "Colonel Van Thomas Barfoot, Medal of Honor Recipient and American Soldier")
Colonel Van Thomas Barfoot, A Soldier's Story
Van Thomas Barfoot was born on June 15, 1914, on a farm in Edinburg, Mississippi, one of nine children raised during an era shaped by hard work, responsibility, and service to country. Those early values would define a lifetime of quiet resolve and extraordinary courage.
In 1940, as the world moved steadily toward global conflict, Van Barfoot enlisted in the United States Army. During World War II, he served with the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, and deployed to the Italian Campaign, where Allied forces faced entrenched enemy defenses, rugged terrain, and relentless combat.
On May 23, 1944, near Carano, Italy, Second Lieutenant Barfoot distinguished himself in actions that would earn him the Congressional Medal of Honor. Displaying exceptional bravery under fire, he advanced alone through a minefield, neutralized multiple enemy machine-gun positions, captured seventeen German soldiers, and later destroyed an enemy tank using a bazooka, despite sustaining wounds during the engagement. His actions broke enemy resistance and enabled his unit to advance, saving countless lives.
Colonel Barfoot’s heroism did not end with World War II. He continued his military career through the Korean War and Vietnam era, later training as a helicopter pilot and serving as a military adviser to the Virginia National Guard. Over the course of his service, he earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts, reflecting valor and sacrifice across decades in uniform.
Yet to the broader public, Colonel Barfoot became widely known late in life for a different kind of stand. In his Virginia retirement community, he challenged a homeowners' association that sought to restrict the display of the American flag at his home. Firmly but respectfully, he defended his right to fly the flag he had served under for more than half a century. He won the case, stating simply, “In the time I have left, I plan to continue to fly the American flag.”
Colonel Van Thomas Barfoot died on March 2, 2012, and rests at H.C. Smither Memorial Cemetery in Hudgins, Virginia. His life stands as a testament to courage under fire, devotion to service, and an enduring belief in the freedoms he helped secure.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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