November is often welcomed by crisp air and falling leaves, indicating that fall is here. But for many, it indicates that another season of football is in full swing. In 1941, this was particularly true for Maurice Britt, who was in the midst of his rookie season with the Detroit Lions in the National Football League (NFL). However, with tensions rising between the United States and Hitler’s allies overseas, his professional sports career was short-lived. Britt went on to serve in the US Army and became one of the most decorated soldiers in World War II, earning the nation’s highest award for valor in combat, the Medal of Honor.
Maurice Britt was born on June 29, 1919, in the rural town of Carlisle, Arkansas. He grew up an only child through the Great Depression, fostering ideals that would go on to shape him as an adult. He earned the nickname “Footsie” due to his feet measuring a size 13 at an unusually young age, which aided him in his athletic abilities. Combining his intelligence with physical aptitude, Britt graduated at the top of his class as the Valedictorian of Lonoke High School in 1937. He then attended the University of Arkansas on an athletic scholarship, where he flourished in both Division I football and basketball. In addition to his athletic pursuits, Britt was an active member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
Britt was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1941. While he had a standout collegiate career that included All-American honors, his professional record was marked by a singular touchdown pass in a win against the Philadelphia Eagles. With neutrality for the United States becoming less of a possibility, Britt felt a profound call to serve his country, leaving behind his promising football career to fight against the Axis forces. After a deferment to play his final game of professional football, Britt reported to Little Rock for active duty and was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division with the US Army. He deployed overseas and participated in multiple campaigns in Africa and Europe in the fight against Hitler and the Axis powers.
His experiences as a professional athlete became evident not only in his prowess on the battlefield but in his ability to take charge and lead others. On the morning of November 10, 1943, near Mignano, Italy, Britt, then serving as lieutenant, and his men were engaged in a firefight with enemy forces. Outnumbered by German soldiers, Britt’s company was faced with waves of machine gun fire, mortar rounds, and grenades. Taking charge, Britt directed the assault on the German positions, exposing himself repeatedly to enemy fire. He destroyed several enemy positions and machine gun nests, even continuing to throw grenades after being injured. During the fight, Britt was wounded in multiple areas including his face, chest, side, and hands. Despite these life-threatening wounds, Britt refused to be medically evacuated. His efforts allowed his company to make significant gains against the enemy. He continued to lead his men, rallying them to hold their position and eventually pushing the enemy back. His Medal of Honor citation states that without Britt’s leadership, his company would have been isolated.
For his actions in Italy, Britt was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 5, 1944, at the spring commencement ceremony for the University of Arkansas on their football field, where he once was a student-athlete. He was honorably discharged on December 27 of the same year at the rank of captain. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Britt was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star, making him the first World War II soldier to receive all four of the US Army’s highest awards for valor.
After the war, Britt resumed civilian life. His injuries from the war, which included the permanent loss of his right arm from an artillery shell after his Medal of Honor action, prevented him from reviving his professional football career. He returned to his home state with his first wife, Nancy, and had three children. Britt briefly attended law school at the University of Arkansas and then transitioned into a new career in business. He and Nancy eventually divorced, and Britt married his second wife, Patricia, before kick-starting his political career.
In 1966, Britt ran for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, a position he won and held for two terms from 1967 to 1971. Britt advocated for veterans’ rights, education, and economic development in a new era of Arkansas politics. Appointed by President Richard Nixon, Britt then served as the district director of the Small Business Administration from 1971 to 1985. Britt passed away on November 26, 1995, at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock. Notably, he is one of only two Lieutenant Governors in the state’s history to lie in state in the State Capitol Rotunda. From the football field to the battlefield, Britt lived a life of commitment to duty and public service.
Kacie Howard is an Education Programs Specialist at the National Medal of Honor Museum
