Maurice Britt

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Maurice Lee Britt
June 29, 1919 - November 26, 1995
Nickname	"Footsie"
Place of birth	Carlisle, Arkansas
Allegiance	U.S. Army
Years of service	1941-1944
Rank	Captain
Unit	3rd Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart
Other work	NFL football player Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas

Maurice Lee Britt (June 29, 1919 – November 26, 1995) was an American professional football player, war hero, businessman, and politician. He played for the Detroit Lions, was awarded the Medal of Honor, and later served as the Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas.

Born in Carlisle, Arkansas, but grew up in nearby Lonoke. He went to the University of Arkansas where he was supported by an athletic scholarship. He graduated in 1941 and played football with the Lions during the 1941 season. He was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, in World War II, he entered the U.S. Army in December 1941. In February 1944, he was fighting in Italy. During a fierce battle with German soldiers, he was seriously injured. He managed to repel the Germans, but he lost his right arm. He was awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor for his actions repelling a German attack near Mignano, Italy on October 10, 1943. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star, making him the first recipient of the top three combat decorations in a single war. ^[1]

After the war, he briefly attended the University of Arkansas Law School, but left to enter business. He spent twenty years in business in Arkansas working at a furniture manufacturing company and then running the Beautyguard Manufacturing Company, producing aluminum building products.

In 1966, he was elected to the office of lieutenant governor of Arkansas. ^[2] He was re-elected in 1968. After leaving office, he was appointed the district director of the Small Business Administration.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

His Medal of Honor citation reads:

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, machinegun, 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 machinegun 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.