LARRY E. RAYL, LIKE MOST OF US, WAS VERY PATRIOTIC. LARRY, LIKE MYSELF, WERE VIET-NAM VETERANS. WE WOULD GLADLY SHAKE THE HAND OF ANY WAR VETERAN, IF GIVEN THE CHANCE.
MANY GAVE SOME– SOME GAVE MORE, AND SOME GAVE ALL !
PATRIOTISM * SACRIFICE * DUTY * HONOR * COURAGE * COMMITMENT * INTEGRITY * COUNTRY * SERVICE
GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS AND THOSE PRESENTLY SERVING TO PROTECT OUR U.S.A. FREEDOM.
HERE ARE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED THE HIGHEST DECORATION OUR COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER.
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR!
VAN THOMAS BARFOOT, (Larry called him “barefoot” so that he could remember his name) AND AUDIE LEON MURPHY, who was also one of Larry’s favorite Western movie heroes as well.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
BARFOOT, VAN T.
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.
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.
Some of you readers my know that Van Barfoot refused to remove his large American Flag from his front yard when some of his ignorant and un-thankful neighbors asked him to take it down. It wasn’t taken down until he died at age 92 and buried with him.
Van Barfoot used to say that the real heroes never made it home.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
MURPHY, AUDIE L.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B 1 5th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division
Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France, 26 January 1945
Entered service at: Dallas, Tex.
G.O. No.. 65, 9 August 1945
Citation: 2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machinegun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy’s indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy’s objective.
Audie Murphy, World War 2’s most decorated soldier use to say that the real heroes never made it home.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As I said earlier in this post, All gave some, but some gave all protecting our Freedom.
Have you ever seen this award before? I haven’t.
This is the U.S. Presidential and congressional honor given to many unknown and un- named War Heros, who have given their all, their lives, to defend our American way of life.
Any comments, good bad or ugly can be sent to my e-mail address erbtarzan@yahoo.com
trading post in the subject
END OF POST …><> Return to the top of the page