ARKANSAS POLITICAL PIN MAURICE FOOTSIE BRITT MEDAL OF HONOR WWII LT. GOVERNOR

Description

HERE IS A PLASTIC CAMPAIGN PIN FROM MAURICE "FOOTSIE" BRITT. HE WAS THE  LT. GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS FOR TWO TERMS 1966-1970 BUT  DID NOT RUN FOR A THIRD TERM. HE WAS A LIFE LONG REPUBLICAN. DURING WWII HE SERVED WITH THE ARMY IN EUROPE AND WAS THE FIRST INFANTRY MAN AWARDED THE TOP FOUR COMBAT DECORATIONS DURING WWII. HERE IS HIS CITATION FOR THE MEDAL OF HONOR: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Disdaining enemy hand grenades and close-range machine pistol, machine gun fire, and rifle,
Lt. Britt
inspired and led a handful of his men in repelling a bitter counterattack by approximately 100 Germans against his company positions north of Mignano, Italy, the morning of 10 November 1943. During the intense fire fight,
Lt. Britt's
canteen and field glasses were shattered; a bullet pierced his side; his chest, face, and hands were covered with grenade wounds. Despite his wounds, for which he refused to accept medical attention until ordered to do so by his battalion commander following the battle, he personally killed 5 and wounded an unknown number of Germans, wiped out one enemy machine gun crew, fired 5 clips of carbine and an undetermined amount of M1 rifle ammunition, and threw 32 fragmentation grenades. His bold, aggressive actions, utterly disregarding superior enemy numbers, resulted in capture of 4 Germans, 2 of them wounded, and enabled several captured Americans to escape.
Lt. Britt's
undaunted courage and prowess in arms were largely responsible for repulsing a German counterattack which, if successful, would have isolated his battalion and destroyed his company. THIS IS THE FIRST PIN FROM HIS CAMPAIGN I HAVE SEEN. HE GOT HIS NICKNAME "FOOTSIE" WHEN HE WON A PAIR OF SHOES AT A FAIR WHEN HE WAS A YOUTH. HE ALSO PLAYED PRO FOOTBALL FOR THE DETROIT LIONS AND COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS. HE WAS A VERY INTERESTING MAN WHO PASSED AWAY IN 1995. IT IS SHOWN WITH A CENT FOR SIZING. IN GOOD SHAPE LIGHT WEAR FROM HANDLING.