Decorated WWII Veteran Told to Take Down Flag Pole

A homeowners association in Virginia ordered a decorated war veteran to take down his flagpole. The story caused debates and outrage nationwide, and some of the anger sits in Oklahoma and for good reason. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/" target="_blank">45th Infantry Division Museum in Oklahoma City</a>

Friday, December 4th 2009, 10:54 pm

By: News 9


By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A homeowners association in Virginia ordered a decorated war veteran to take down his flagpole. The story caused debates and outrage nationwide, and some of the anger sits in Oklahoma and for good reason.

General George Patton once called the 45th Infantry Division "one of the best, if not the best division in the history of America Arms." It's the very division the veteran at the heart of the flagpole controversy served.

The museum that holds the division's history is in Oklahoma City. Mike Gonzales is the museum curator.

"He was in World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, and a list of all his medals and decorations would take us the rest of the evening," Gonzales said.

Gonzales has an immeasurable respect for Col. Van Barfoot whose photo and story graces a very important wall in a museum of remarkable memories. The wall shows the division's nine Medal of Honor recipients.

"Barfoot is the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient for the 45th Infantry Division," Gonzales said.

It's why Gonzales said he felt "there was a pang of nausea, anger" when he saw the Barfoot's story on network news.

The Sussex Square homeowners' association doesn't specifically ban flagpoles but said they must be "aesthetically appropriate." They do allow short flag poles, but Barfoot said it's not dignified enough for the American Flag.

"I think it is ridiculous. In the first place, I think my flag or staff looks better than any tree out there," Barfoot said.

To earn his Medal of Honor, Barfoot took down machine gun nests by himself in Italy on May 23, 1944. He then was able to take 17 Germans as prisoner and went on to outmaneuver three Tiger Tanks with the help of a bazooka. Barfoot also saved two comrades that same day.

"Medal of Honor recipients, the stories of what they went through is almost always far superior to what any movie writer could come up with," Gonzales said.

Gonzales has spent time with Barfoot who has visited the museum. He said one conversation sticks out. It was the time Barfoot told Gonzalez what it felt like to receive the Medal of Honor.

"[Barfoot] said to me, 'It's not my award. I wear it for all the guys that didn't make it,'" Gonzales said.

Reports indicated a decision on the Barfoot's flag issue could come next Friday. Meanwhile, the list of Barfoot's supporters continues to grow. Gonzalez said he has sent several e-mails of support since he found out about the controversy.

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