# This man needs everyones help.... **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [December 2, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834 "2009-12-02T19:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/41 "2009-12-03T08:26:06Z")
seriously, it states right in there that he IS allowed to put a moderately sized flag pole ON HIS PORCH. wtf is the big deal. I bet this thing is a MASSIVE and severely awkward looking. ---
**Author:** ![Treads4Heads](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/treads4heads/32/7416_2.png) [@Treads4Heads](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Treads4Heads)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/42 "2009-12-03T08:39:10Z")
> [@AFhockey31](#): > > 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. 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. So you’re telling me after he single handedly killed 7 nazi’s, captured 17 POWs, knocked out three defensive positions, stopped three tanks while disabling one, and saving two soldiers all in a days work that he isn’t allowed to display his patriotism a little bit more than his fellow HOA members? He went above and beyond his expectations year earlier, I think they can cut the man some slack and let him wave his flag. ---
**Author:** ![Geoff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geoff/32/6104_2.png) [@Geoff](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geoff)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/43 "2009-12-03T08:46:22Z")
Sure he knew the rules, sure he went ahead anyway. But come on, take a step back and look at the big picture. It’s a flag pole which he proudly uses to celebrate and display the american flag. If the majority of the public had half the respect for our country that this dude has, or has done as much for our country as he has… I side with the Colnel on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Jack](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jack/32/7613_2.png) [@Jack](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jack)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/44 "2009-12-03T08:48:42Z")
> [@newman](#): > > While i think it’s silly that they asked him to take it down, he bought a house there. He knew the rules. > > While I don’t agree with them asking him to take it down, I feel like they have every right to. > > **I mean, christ, he asked to put up a flagpole. They said no. He did anyway. Sorry, oldman, but you’re in the wrong.** > > Don’t buy a house there? What’s the problem? > > If I buy a house on vampire rape lane, and am given the rules beforehand, I don’t think I’d have a right to bitch when my daughter is raped by a vampire. I also agree with newman. If he didn’t live in a yuppie subdivision he wouldn’t have to worry about this shit. Entirely his fault. A congressional medal of honor really doesn’t mean crap when it comes to your rights on your property when the HOA controls everything. It actually doesn’t mean anything except that you may get an ounce of respect from 99% of the population of this country and the other 1% will know you’re a hero, but that really wouldn’t get you anywhere anyway. I bet if it wasn’t labeled as a CMOH 99% of the people on this forum wouldn’t have been able to identify it, and still wouldn’t care what it was. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/45 "2009-12-03T08:52:42Z")
I could maybe see if there was some line in the HOA code that specifically prohibited the flag pole but there isn’t. He asked for permission and they arbitrarily said, “nope, sorry war hero, hang your flag from your porch because we said so”. I still wouldn’t like it, but I could at least see the point of “he knew the rules and decided to live there”. That’s not the case though. Nothing in the rules says, “no flagpoles”, they just made one up after he asked to install one. And yes, since there isn’t a rule specifically prohibiting it I believe his past service for this country SHOULD be taken into consideration when deciding if he should be allowed to put up the flagpole. ---
**Author:** ![Geoff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geoff/32/6104_2.png) [@Geoff](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geoff)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/46 "2009-12-03T09:00:26Z")
Plus, what’s it harming? Are low-flying planes running into it, have people died while hanging on it during a lightning strike? It’s probably just the HOA’s view of aesthetics paired with their authority to “say so”. There are bigger problems out there. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/harvey/32/5069_2.png) [@Harvey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Harvey)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/47 "2009-12-03T09:02:59Z")
I’d like to meet the bitter old lady across the street who’s complaining about it. ---
**Author:** ![layzie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/layzie/32/7599_2.png) [@layzie](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/layzie)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/48 "2009-12-03T09:09:36Z")
Im so confused. Is this guys name Barfort or Barfoot? ---
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/49 "2009-12-03T09:09:59Z")
There may not have been a rule prohibiting a flag pole, but I assume there are rules prohibiting a property owner from making unapproved improvements. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/50 "2009-12-03T09:26:34Z")
> [@Avatar](#): > > There may not have been a rule prohibiting a flag pole, but I assume there are rules prohibiting a property owner from making unapproved improvements. So? That means they had the power to approve it and didn’t, hence why the members of this HOA should be the social pariahs they appear to be becoming now that this story is getting national attention. It was an arbitrary decision where they could have easily given him approval based on the big picture. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/51 "2009-12-03T09:28:15Z")
Wow, check this out: [http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&source=hp&q=Van%20T.%20Barfoot&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn](http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&source=hp&q=Van%20T.%20Barfoot&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn) His story is really starting to take off now. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/52 "2009-12-03T09:40:16Z")
wow. It’s 21 feet high? That’s pretty large. Not to mention, the articles all say that they denied the request based on the aesthetic guidelines that are part of the “rule book”. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/53 "2009-12-03T09:53:23Z")
21 Feet isn’t that bad, my house is almost 35 feet tall and I have plenty of trees much taller then that. It just sounds like a stupid HOA getting a boner on a flag pole. Bunch of keep up with the jones FGGTS. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/54 "2009-12-03T09:55:31Z")
looks like a 1-story house to me ![http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/media/ALeqM5j55gXO0g_LbwYvpFKk4D-43Fw15Q?size=s2](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/media/ALeqM5j55gXO0g_LbwYvpFKk4D-43Fw15Q?size=s2) ---
**Author:** ![tpgsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tpgsr/32/7374_2.png) [@tpgsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tpgsr)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/55 "2009-12-03T09:59:01Z")
His house is not in the middle of the neighborhood: [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s\_q&hl=en&q=&vps=3&jsv=192a&sll=37.612632,-77.627769&sspn=0.001256,0.00284&ie=UTF8&geocode=FXHvPQIdnIFf-w&split=0](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=&vps=3&jsv=192a&sll=37.612632,-77.627769&sspn=0.001256,0.00284&ie=UTF8&geocode=FXHvPQIdnIFf-w&split=0) Video of him speaking out: [http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/POLEGAT02\_20091202-091201/309031/](http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/POLEGAT02_20091202-091201/309031/) ---
**Author:** ![AFhockey31](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/afhockey31/32/5086_2.png) [@AFhockey31](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AFhockey31)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/56 "2009-12-03T10:08:52Z")
> **[RL30243.pdf](https://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf)** > > 114.87 KB Ill save you the read, and heres the last paragraph… Quote: Restrictions on Display of the Flag by Real Estate Associations The Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 prohibits a condominium, cooperative, or real estate management association from adopting or enforcing any policy or agreement that would restrict or prevent a member of the association from displaying the flag in accordance with the Federal Flag Code on residential property to which the member has a separate ownership interest. ---
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/57 "2009-12-03T10:10:27Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > So? That means they had the power to approve it and didn’t, hence why the members of this HOA should be the social pariahs they appear to be becoming now that this story is getting national attention. It was an arbitrary decision where they could have easily given him approval based on the big picture. Just pointing out that the HOA has the legal right to disapprove of the flagpole. I don’t agree with the decision of the HOA and feel that there should’ve been a compromise reached. That said, who knows what the recourse is now. It is all up to what is in the HOA contract. I assume some kind of mandatory arbitration so here’s to hoping they can work something out before it reaches public courts. ---
**Author:** ![AFhockey31](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/afhockey31/32/5086_2.png) [@AFhockey31](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AFhockey31)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/58 "2009-12-03T10:13:34Z")
> [@Avatar](#): > > Just pointing out that the HOA has the legal right to disapprove of the flagpole. > > I don’t agree with the decision of the HOA and feel that there should’ve been a compromise reached. > > That said, who knows what the recourse is now. It is all up to what is in the HOA contract. I assume some kind of mandatory arbitration so here’s to hoping they can work something out before it reaches public courts. Read above… They really dont have the legal right… > **[HR 42](http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/hr42.htm)** > > Public Law 110-41 As long as the flag is properly displayed, they cant. He puts it up in the time of light and removes it in times of darkness… He could actually fly it 24/7 if it was properly illuminated. ---
**Author:** ![breakstuff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/breakstuff/32/5413_2.png) [@breakstuff](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/breakstuff)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/59 "2009-12-03T10:31:14Z")
> A condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association may not adopt or enforce any policy, or enter into any agreement, that would **restrict or prevent** a member of the association from displaying the flag of the United States on residential property within the association with respect to which such member has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or use. The residents can have wall mounted flagpoles. While they aren’t preventing him from flying the flag entirely, is it considered a restriction if they only allow wall mounted flags? I still think the people raising this stink need to find more productive ways to spend their time. ---
**Author:** ![NYstanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@NYstanger](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NYstanger)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834/60 "2009-12-03T10:38:20Z")
> [@Geoff](#): > > Sure he knew the rules, sure he went ahead anyway. > > But come on, take a step back and look at the big picture. > > It’s a flag pole which he proudly uses to celebrate and display the american flag. If the majority of the public had half the respect for our country that this dude has, or has done as much for our country as he has… > > I side with the Colnel on this one. +1. I’m glad the ole man did it anyways. Now he needs to dust off his ole gear and go ape shit on the communist regime that is denying his patriotism. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/this-man-needs-everyones-help/76834.md?page=4)