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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.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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