America250: Van Barfoot

Many people are naturally determined, and have a fierce will to fight against impossible odds, even in the littlest matters. Some call it stubbornness, others believe it to be determination, while others simply call it courage or a sense of valor. For Army Veteran Van Thomas Barfoot, it was a matter of service and responsibility.

Born in Edinburg, Mississippi, in June 1919, Barfoot was the grandson of a woman belonging to the Choctaw tribe, which originated from the regions of present-day Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana. Barfoot’s parents never enrolled him to become an official member of the Choctaw Nation. He enlisted into the United States Army at age 21, being assigned to the 1st Infantry Division in Louisiana. After completing basic training, he was then sent to Puerto Rico. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant shortly before transferring to Quantico, Virginia, where he was stationed at the Headquarters Amphibious Force Atlantic Fleet until 1943.

Barfoot saw combat in the Italian Campaign, where he deployed to Europe with the 157th Infantry Regiment. The Italian Campaign was broken up into three primary amphibious landing points: Sicily, Salerno and Anzio. Barfoot, who had recently been promoted to technical sergeant, found himself and his unit being pushed inland toward Anzio. They advanced further inland until coming upon the town of Carano, where he and his unit held up in a defensive and secure position. They performed daily patrols hoping to find the German lines. They quickly found them.

On May 23, 1944, Barfoot’s platoon was engaged with German forces that were entrenched on superior ground. The sergeant flanked the enemy alone. Crawling into the proximity of a German machine gun nest, he destroyed it with one direct hit from a hand grenade, which killed two Germans and wounded three more. Barfoot continued his lone assault along the defensive line that the Germans had embedded themselves in. He successfully decommissioned another machine gun nest, this time with his tommy gun, killing two Germans and capturing three others. German soldiers from another nest in the proximity abandoned their posts and surrendered to Barfoot, who left them for a support squad that was following his wake. He then proceeded to clear the immediate zone, destroying the machine gun nests and capturing additional Germans, resulting in 17 total.

Later that day, Barfoot reorganized his men and amalgamated the newly-acquired position. German forces then launched a devastating counterattack with armored support at Barfoot and his platoon, who had little time to prepare defenses. Without hesitation or regard to his own safety, Barfoot sprang into action. He seized a nearby bazooka, taking up a risky, exposed position that placed him in the direct path of three advancing Mark VI tanks. From a lengthy distance of 75 yards, he successfully destroyed the track of the first tank, disabling it. This caused the other two tanks to turn around and move toward the flank. He then killed three members of the disabled tank as they tried to disembark from the vehicle. He then pressed onward and destroyed an abandoned German fieldpiece before returning to his platoon’s position. Though fatigued by his efforts, he assisted the evacuation for two of his men who were severely wounded to a safe position some 1,700 yards away. He made the trip four times.

Barfoot became an inspiration for his men and fellow soldiers. He eventually received a Medal of Honor, Silver Star, three Purple Hearts and a battlefield commission to second lieutenant for that day. After the war, he continued his service, ultimately fighting in the Korean War and Vietnam War before retiring in 1974.

Barfoot retired to a farm in Virginia, where he honored his fellow soldiers and those who had fallen in service to America by rising and lowering the American flag every day until his eventual death.

Barfoot died in 2012.

We honor his service.

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America250

VA is highlighting 250 Veterans leading up to July 4, 2026, which marks 250 years of independence. Learn more about the count down to 250 years of the American spirit at https://america250.org/.

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Writer: Alex Boucher

Editors: Annabelle Colton, Julia Pack

Fact Checker: Giacomo Ferrari

Graphic Designer: Kiki Kelley