Van T. Barfoot received the Medal of Honor, Silver Star, three awards of Purple Heart and a battlefield commission to Second Lieutenant during WWII for the single-handed capture of 17 German soldiers and killing eight others on May 23, 1944.
He completed flight training as a Major at the age of 40 in 1960 and was assigned to the legendary Howze Board which established Air Mobility and modern Army Aviation. During Vietnam, he again answered the Nation's call as the Deputy Aviation Officer, 1967-68, and flew 177 combat hours earning an Air Medal with two clusters and Legion of Merit.