

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.