Colonel Van Barfoot fought and helped defeat the Nazis and the communists twice, yet now, even at age 90 his enemies are still at the gate.
The retired Army officer has dug in against his home owners association in Richmond Virginia because they’ve threatened legal action for flying his US flag on a 21-foot tall pole.
He raises the American flag every morning on the pole, then lowers and folds the flag at dusk each day in a three-corner military fashion.
Van Barfoot was given until 5 p.m. today by the Richmond law firm of Coates & Davenport to remove his flagpole or face "legal action being brought to enforce the Covenants and Restrictions against you." The letter states that Barfoot will be subject to paying all legal fees and costs in any successful legal proceeding pursued by the homeowner association's board.
Barfoot moved to the Sussex Square community in western Henrico County last July, and was ordered to remove the flagpole from his front lawn when he flew the flag on Labor Day, and again on Veterans Day.
The HOA said he could not use his flagpole "for aesthetic reasons.”
This is the respect shown to a man who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his action following the Anzio landing in early 1944.
Then a tech sergeant, Barfoot advanced alone through a Nazi minefield, following ditches and depressions, until he came within a few yards of a machine gun on the German flank. After taking out the gun with a hand grenade, he entered the German trench and advanced on a second machine gun, killing two soldiers and capturing three others. When he reached a third gun, the entire crew surrendered to him. Others also surrendered and Barfoot captured a total of seventeen German soldiers, and killed eight.
When the Germans launched an armored counterattack later in the day, Barfoot disabled one tank with a bazooka, then advanced into enemy-held territory and destroyed an abandoned German artillery piece. He returned to his own lines and helped two wounded soldiers from his squad to the rear.
Now as then, the lanky (6’5”) Barfoot is not backing down and will fight this in court. He is said to be shocked and gratified by the outpouring of support from around the country.
There is no HOA rule expressly forbidding flagpoles, but the board ruled against Barfoot’s flag pole after the fact and ordered it removed in July. Short flag “stands” attached to porches dot the community. See video here.
We all know HOAs are populated by people who snitched on you in grade school, and they’ve never grown up.
The appropriate and proper response is to grant him an exemption, but they’re the perfect little fifth-columnists for who, “the rules” are far, far more important than respect, dignity and common sense.
He earned the exemption a very long time ago, putting his life on the line professionally for millions of people who aren’t fit to carry his canteens.
And what of those brave attorneys at Coates & Davenport P.C. who accepted this “case”?
They did so because compared to money, the Medal of Honor, the Flag and America do not mean anything to them… otherwise they would have refused the retainer.
Perhaps…. your opinion about this matter may be of interest to them at:
Coates & Davenport P.C.
5206 Markel Road, Suite 200
Richmond VA 23230
Toll Free: (800) 450-8311
Local Phone: (804) 285-7000
General Fax: (804) 285-2849
Real Estate Fax: (804) 285-3426
The picture of their office on their website doesn’t show a flag flying.
Real America still produces men like Col. Barfoot, warriors young enough to be his great grandsons (tip of the helmet to Sailor Ron).
The morning of Nov. 16, 2005, was another day in Operation Steel Curtain to stem the flow of mercenaries entering Iraq from Syria. The end of this particular assignment was in sight as the Marines were running out of houses to check for signs of hostiles on the outskirts of New Ubaydi, near the Iraq border.
What they couldn't know was that two dozen insurgents had picked the last farmhouse on the road for a final stand.
The firefight lasted only an hour, but the heroics would produce one Navy Cross, four Silver Stars and three Bronze Stars with Valor.
The Navy Cross—America’s second-highest valor award—was earned by Cpl. Joshua Mooi, right, who entered direct line of enemy fire six times in an effort to remove badly injured Marines who had been ambushed.
Do yourself a favor and read about Mooi and his comrades in the life-changing minutes for members of 2nd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment—here.
It’s an honor to have worn the same uniform as these fine young Marines
And you also need to bookmark this website: Americanvalor.net
“Since the Sunday before Veterans Day 2009, the newspapers and Web sites of Stephens Media are privileged and humbled to begin a 54-part series that tells the stories of heroism and bravery by the men and women in the United States Armed Forces.”
No one grinds the news media more than I, but this is a great effort by Stephens to bring to our attention the Recipients of all the valor awards being earned in Iraq and the Af-Pak Theater. Stephens is to be commended.
There is also a section for you to post the details of your military hero, regardless of war; submissions will be reviewed before posting and your contact information is required to verify the information.



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