The Terrible Story Of Sergeant Van Thomas Barefoot, Honoring Him For His Great services During World War 2.

During one day of close quarters combat in Italy, Technical Sergeant Van Thomas Barfoot single-handedly killed 8 German soldiers, captured 17, destroyed a tank and an artillery piece, and rescued two critically wounded Americans.

For his incredible aggression and magnificent valor, Barfoot was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to an officer. He survived the war and remained in the Army, serving again in Korea and Vietnam.

He retired in 1974 as a Colonel. In 2012, at the age of 92, Barfoot fell outside of his home in Richmond, VA and fractured his skull. He passed away 2 days later.

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"...on 23 May 1944, serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault, Sergeant Barfoot moved off alone upon the enemy left flank.

He crawled to the proximity of one machine gun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing two and wounding three Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another emplacement, and with his Tommy gun killed two and captured three soldiers.

He proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to seventeen. Later that day, the enemy launched an armored counterattack directly at his platoon.

Securing a bazooka, Sergeant Barfoot took up a position directly in front of three advancing tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, while the other two changed direction.

As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sergeant Barfoot killed three 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, Sergeant Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted two wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety."

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