Maurice Britt
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Maurice Lee Britt (June 29, 1919 – November 26, 1995) was a professional athlete, war hero, and Arkansas politician. He played for the Detroit Lions, was awarded the Medal of Honor, and later served as the Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas.
Biography
He was 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 Detroit Lions during the 1941 season.
He entered the military in December 1941. In February 1944, he was fighting in Italy. During a fierce battle with German soldiers, he was seriously injured, but managed to repel the Germans. For this, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, but he lost his right arm.
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. He was re-elected in 1968. After leaving office, he was appointed the district director of the Small Business Administration.
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.