Medal of Honor Recipient prevails: COL Barfoot forces HOA to back down

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Home owners associations can be a force for good... and for bad. Locally, the HOA in LaCenter has become a wholly owned megacasino subsidiary, not unlike Steve "Sorry, Mr. Barnett; cash only" Stuart. They're too ignorant to figure out their leaders are going to hang them, and their community, out to dry for their own ends.

On the other side of the country are the low-lifes of the Sussex Square Homeowner's Association, located in Henrico County, VA, who moronically attempted to force COL Barfoot to take his flagpole and flag down because of the aesthetics of the thing, you see.

John Lilyea over at This Ain't Hell has the low down on these morons. Check it out.
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There's Something REALLY wrong with this: WWII veteran, homeowners group at odds over flagpole

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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.[7]

The citation above accompanied the Medal of Honor, Awarded to then Techical Sergeant (Now Colonel, USA, RET) Van Barfoot.

There are a group of out and out scum known as the Homeowners Association of Sussex Square, Henrico County, VA. These miscreants have "ordered" COL Barfoot to remove the flagpole from his yard from which he flies the flag he fought under, bled under, and killed for.

An actual picture of the offensive and not aesthetically pleasing flag and pole.

These scum have problems with it because the flag pole and its flag aren't "aesthetically pleasing."
Although I am not located within 3000 miles of this pack of jackals, my outrage should reach that far, and a copy of this post is getting emailed as soon as I can scrounge up an email address that goes directly to their nest of vipers.

This is a short post, because I simply cannot find words adequate to the task. The idea that a bunch of sniveling scum who enjoy the life that people like COL Barfoot have enabled them to enjoy would tell THIS man that HE CANNOT HAVE A FLAG POLE AND FLAG IN HIS OWN YARD???????

Despicable doesn't begin to cover it.

Huge HT to Smash Mouth Politics, who investigated this sorry episode and took the picture of the offending flag pole and flag.
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Today is Medal of Honor Day (March 25, 2009)

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Today is National Medal of Honor Day. We respect and honor the service of the courageous individuals who’ve EARNED this award (As opposed to "WON" this award... believe me, it's not a contest), many of whom sacrificed their lives for their fellow soldiers. These are the best of our nation, and their examples inspire us all.

I have, at one time, or another, read every Medal of Honor Citation I can find... because I never cease to be amazed by the common threads that run through these exploits.

A love of country... a love of their fellow soldiers, as many died sacrificing themselves so that others in their unit might live... an almost ethereal sense of commitment and duty.

I defer to the remarks of President Harry S Truman, presenting the Medal to 15 recipients in October of 1945:

167 - Remarks on Presenting the Congressional Medal of Honor to Fifteen Members of the Armed Forces.
October 12, 1945

WELL, once again I have had a very great privilege. I would rather do what I have been doing this morning than any other one of my arduous duties. This one is a pleasure.

When you look at these young men, you see the United States of America, the greatest republic on earth, the country that can meet any situation when it becomes necessary.

These young men were doing their duty. They didn't think they were being heroes. They didn't think they were doing anything unusual. They were just doing what the situation called for.

As I have told the rest of these young men who have been here before me, I would much rather have that Medal around my neck than to be President of the United States. It is the greatest honor that can come to a man. It is an honor that all of us strive for, but very few of us ever achieve.

Now these young men will go back and become citizens of this great country, and they will make good citizens; and you won't find any of them bragging about what they have done or what they propose to do. They are just going to be good citizens of the United States, and they are going to help us take this Republic to its leadership in the world, where it belongs, and where it has belonged for the past 25 years.

Thank you very much for giving me this pleasure and this privilege.

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Note: The presentation was made by the President in a ceremony on the South Lawn at the White House. The Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded to the following members of the Armed Forces from the European and Pacific theaters: Cpl. T. A. Atkins, Cpl. Edward A. Bennett, Cpl. M. E. Biddle, Capt. J. M. Burt, Cpl. C. B. Craft, Cpl. Desmond T. Doss, T. Sgt. F. V. Homer, T. Sgt. C. H. Karaberis, Sgt. T. J. Kelly, Sgt. D. J. Kerst

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Citation: John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters,The American Presidency Project [online]. Santa Barbara, CA: University of California (hosted), Gerhard Peters (database). Available from World Wide Web: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=12316.
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Once again, Obama blows off the troops: this time, the lowly Medal of Honor awardees.

.Was 2004 that long ago that we've all, already, forgotten?

The left ran the Prince of Arrogance, the Clown-Prince of Fake Heroism, one Senator John "Reporting for duty" Kerry.

Senator Kerry had a record of selling out his own, and a record of making things up. Who can forget his Purple Hurt (Yeah, I said "hurt." I won't besmirch the name "Purple Heart" by attaching it to Kerry.) debacle?

How many millions of dollars did the left blow, pounding into the electorate how important it is for our Commander and Chief to have some actual, real, genuine combat experience, as opposed to the Pretender to the Throne, who has only been a National Guard pilot?

How quickly we forget.

Segue to 2008, and they run for President not even someone who lied about enlisting, ala former democrat God Bill Clinton. No, they just flat out run someone who had never set foot in uniform, never put his ass on the line, and had no combat experience at all; save combating the munchies after he nailed a blunt.

So, we go from one election, where the left would tell us that combat experience is almost everything since we're in a war; to this election where, in 4 short years, that tenet has become utterly meaningless, and we're now possessed of a clown that can't even orchestrate a press conference, let alone run a war.

And we also seem to have someone running the show who doesn't give a damn about the troops.

From blowing off our wounded at Landshtul so he could play basketball, to being the first president in the last 56 years to blow off the Medal of Honor Society, American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America, etc, Inaugural Ball, President Obama has sent a message.

And both our Active and Veteran Components have heard it, loud and clear. Rest assured, Mr. President, that I care just a much for you as you do for me. And at this point, that is clearly not at all.

PAJAMAS MEDIA

Obama Snubs Medal of Honor Recipients

Every inaugurated president for the last 56 years has attended the Salute to Heroes Ball. Except one.

January 22, 2009 - by Mr. Wolf

Here it is less than 72 hours into a new administration and the blogs have already been burning up the internet over a major snub by our new president.

What is the slight that they’re feeling? What’s got them all bunched up? A party — one the new president failed to show up for.

Every four years during inauguration evening (the galas began in 1809), groups vie for a visit from the incoming president, his wife, and anyone from his ticket. For decades, the “official” and “unofficial” galas have hoped to get a short visit from the president. He would take a few turns on the dance floor, say a few words to those gathered, and move on to the next one. Typically, these galas and balls consist of groups of people that have a common theme or background — from youth groups (H.O.P.E. Inaugural Youth Ball) to the National Council on Women ball. Which ones the new president attends say much about his priorities (right or wrong) and which demographics he may hold in high esteem.

In this case, the American Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, as well as other veteran’s groups, were sponsoring their gala that has coincided with the inaugural evening since Eisenhower took office in 1953. In total, nine presidents and 56 years have gone by, and each inaugural evening the new president arrived to thank the veterans and Medal of Honor recipients in attendance. As one of the “unofficial” balls, it meant quite a bit to have the president show up and make an appearance.

Except this time.

The president and first lady, for the first time in those ensuing 56 years, did not make an appearance at the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball. In attendance at the gala were 48 of the 99 living recipients of our nation’s highest honor. Of the 99 who are still with us, not even half are in any condition or possess the wherewithal to travel to such an event. And by the next inauguration, likely half of those won’t be with us.

Making this evening even more special was the fact that it is the 50th anniversary of the Medal of Honor Society, which has been working hard to reach out to people to educate them about its members.

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