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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Lt. Maurice L. Britt, U. S. Army 3rd Infantry
 Maurice "Footsie" Britt was born in Carlisle, Arkansas on June 29, 1919 the son of Maurice Lee and Virgie (Oliver) Britt, and raised in nearby Lonoke. He attended the University of Arkansas, graduating in 1941 after enjoying a successful college athletic career in both basketball and football. Three members of the military with pro football connections, Maurice Britt, Joe Foss , and Jack Lummus , earned their countrys highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. After one season of playing professional football with the Detroit Lions, Britt was called to active duty in the United States Army in December, 1941. As a platoon commander in the Third Infantry Division , Britt took part in the African, Sicilian, and Italian campaigns. He was seriously wounded on February 12, 1944, loosing his right arm and for his battlefield exploits Britt won numerous decorations including the Congressional Medal of Honor. Following a peacetime career in manufacturing, Britt ran a successful campaign for lieutenant governor of Arkansas in 1966, an office he held until 1970. The first Republican lieutenant governor (1967-70) in Arkansas since Reconstruction. Re-elected in 1968, he served as lieutenant governor during the tenure of Republican Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller. Although Britt was acting governor on several occasions, he did "not keep a record of the dates" in which he served in such a capacity. Deciding not to run for reelection in 1970, he acted as Rockefeller's campaign manager in his unsuccessful bid for a third term in that year. Afterwards he accepted a position as District Director of the Small Business Administration, 1971-1985, and made an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1986. Britt has remained active in a number of organizations, particularly veterans groups and their associated reunions.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Captain (then Lieutenant), U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: North of Mignano, Italy, 10 November 1943. Entered service at: Lonoke, Ark. Born: 29 June 1919, Carlisle, Ark. G.O. No.: 23, 24 March 1944. Citation: 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 Ml 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.
Courtesy of Find A Grave
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