Today’s Valor Friday honors Maurice “Footsie” Britt, USA, and chronicles his acts of heroism in WWII, from North Africa, to Sicily and finally Italy. Footsie survived the war, and like many quiet heroes, he continued to serve through elected office and Presidential appointment. Here’s his story, as sent to me by one who wishes to remain anonymous.
Maurice is not a name one associates with fierceness, and the nickname “Footsie” conjures a soft, playful image, not a rugged one. But Maurice “Footsie” Britt was both fierce and rugged, a man the enemy repeatedly tried to kill but who denied them again and again.
“Footsie” Britt was a handsome man who stood 6’4” and weighed more than 200 lbs. In high school, he was a gifted student and a gifted athlete who excelled at basketball and football. He was valedictorian of his class and attended the University of Arkansas on a dual scholarship. Despite the demands of studies and sports, he joined the ROTC. He was commissioned an officer upon graduation and was drafted by the Detroit Lions to play football. The Army granted him a temporary deferment to play ball and in 1941, at age 22, he started in nine of the Lions’ 11 games. Then came Pearl Harbor and the abrupt end to Britt’s deferment and football career.
Britt was an infantry officer whose first combat experience came in North Africa in late 1942, followed by action in Italy at Sicily and Salerno in 1943. In a place called Acerno, he was wounded the first of four times during the war. He also prevailed against an enemy machine gun and, for that action, was awarded the Silver Star. At Sicily, his company was stopped by a well concealed enemy machine gun. The infantrymen knew it was there but could not see it. Britt devised a simple plan. He rose and began doing jumping jacks to draw enemy fire. It worked. The enemy fired, revealing itself, and was destroyed, but not before a round tore a chunk from Britt’s arm. For that, Britt received the Distinguished Service Cross but lost the possibility of returning to pro football after the war. The place where Britt did his famous cals was immediately renamed “Britt’s Junction” and one can easily imagine the account of Britt’s impromptu PT being told and retold among the grunts! Such is the stuff of legend.
In Italy, Britt also received a Bronze Star w/ V Device and was promoted to captain in the field. Then came 10 November 1943, the account of which follows below in his Medal of Honor citation.
After the war, “Footsie” returned to the University of Arkansas where he studied law but withdrew to pursue a business career. In 1966, he was elected lieutenant governor of Arkansas and was later appointed by President Nixon to the Small Business Administration. He died in 1995 at the age of 76.
War Department, General Orders No. 23 (March 24, 1944)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain (Infantry) Maurice Lee “Footsie” Britt, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Disdaining enemy hand grenades and close-range machine pistol, machinegun, and rifle fire, Lieutenant 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, Lieutenant 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 five and wounded an unknown number of Germans, wiped out one enemy machinegun crew, fired five clips of carbine and an undetermined amount of Ml rifle ammunition, and threw 32 fragmentation grenades. His bold, aggressive actions, utterly disregarding superior enemy numbers, resulted in capture of four Germans, two of them wounded, and enabled several captured Americans to escape. Lieutenant 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.
Hand Salute. Ready, Two! Fair wind and following seas, Captain.
