On Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2013, at 9 a.m. ET, the Postal Service will conduct the first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Medal of Honor: World War II Forever® stamps. The ceremony will take place in Washington, DC, on the National Mall at the National World War II Memorial. The Memorial is located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Many veterans and Medal of Honor recipients are expected to attend.
Postmasters are asked to conduct local special dedication ceremonies on or after this date to avoid distracting media attention from the national first-day-of-issue ceremony.
This publicity kit includes:
n Medal of Honor and Military Etiquette
n Medal of Honor Recipient Contact
n Military Organizations Contacts
n Medal of Honor Stamp Sheet description
n Medal of Honor Background Information
n Medal of Honor Myths and Facts
n Sample Media Advisory
n Sample News Release
n Sample Speech
n Contact for obtaining enlargements of the stamps for event use
n Corporate Communications contacts
n Government Relations contacts
Please email Mark Saunders at mark.r.saunders@usps.gov to obtain the kit documents listed along with links to high-resolution images of stamps for media use.
Medal of Honor Etiquette
When referring to individuals awarded the Medal of Honor, always refer to them as “recipients” who have earned the award or “awardees.” Never use the term “won” or “winner” as it implies a competition. The Medal is not named the Congressional Medal of Honor. The true name of the medal is Medal of Honor. Visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website at http://www.cmohs.org for information on all Medal of Honor recipients.
When referring to these Medal of Honor recipients who served in the Army, refer to them as soldiers. Marines who are no longer serving in the Corps are referred to as Marines, former Marines, or retired Marines — but never as ex-Marines.
Medal of Honor Recipient Contact
Some of the recipients may be able to attend local events. Please refrain from contacting them directly. Out of concern for the privacy of these elder award recipients — the youngest of which is 88, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society has requested that Jim McKean, jim.mckean@usps.gov, continue as the liaison between the individual recipients and the Postal Service. Please contact Jim should you wish to invite a recipient to your event. The recipients’ cities and state locations are listed in this article.
Living Medal of Honor Recipient Citations
Click the links below for detailed descriptions on living World War II Medal of Honor recipients whose photographs appear in the framed area of the stamp sheet. Note: Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Vernon McGarity died before the stamps could be issued, as did Nicholas Oresko, who died after the stamps were printed. Their photographs are still included, as they remain among the last representatives of a remarkable group whose courage and devotion we honor with this issuance. Information on all Medal of Honor recipients from all wars can be found at www.cmohs.org.
1. Charles H. Coolidge of Chattanooga, TN: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2688/coolidge-charles-h.php
2. Francis S. Currey of Selkirk, NY: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2698/currey-francis-s.php
3. Walter D. Ehlers of Buena Park, CA: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2724/ehlers-walter-d.php
4. John D. Hawk of Bremerton, WA: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2783/hawk-john-d.php
5. Daniel K. Inouye (deceased) of Honolulu, HI: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2799/inouye-daniel-k.php
6. Robert D. Maxwell of Bend, OR: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2865/maxwell-robert-d.php
7. Vernon McGarity (deceased) of Memphis, TN: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2876/mcgarity-vernon.php
8. Nicholas Oresko (deceased) of Creskill, NJ: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2931/oresko-nicholas.php
9. Wilburn K. Ross of Dupont, WA: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2974/ross-wilburn-k.php
10. George T. Sakato of Denver, CO: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2980/sakato-george-t.php
11. Arthur J. Jackson of Boise, ID: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2801/jackson-arthur-j.php
12. Hershel W. Williams of Ona, WV: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3066/williams-hershel-woodrow.php
Military Organizations Contacts
Postmasters are encouraged to reach out to and include military and veterans groups in their events. Visit http://www.military.com/spouse/military-life/ and click the link for contacting military personnel.
Medal of Honor: World War II Stamp Sheet
With the issuance of the Medal of Honor: World War II stamp sheet, the U.S. Postal Service® introduces a new stamp format, the prestige folio. This format consists of a large sheet folded in half to form four separate pages. When folded, the two-pane design is 8 ½ inches wide by 7 ½ inches tall.
The first page of this issuance highlights historic photographs of the last 12 living recipients of the Medal of Honor from World War II. The photographs surround two Forever stamps; one features a photograph of the Navy version of the Medal of Honor, and the other features a photograph of the Army version of the award. The Air Force version of the medal is not shown because it was not created until 1965.
In January 2012, the U.S. Postal Service invited the last living World War II Medal of Honor recipients to join in honoring the extraordinary courage of every member awarded the medal for their valorous actions during the war. All the men pictured here agreed to participate in this momentous event.
Pictured (clockwise from top left) are Charles H. Coolidge of Chattanooga, TN; Francis S. Currey of Selkirk, NY; Walter D. Ehlers of Buena Park, CA; John D. Hawk of Bremerton, WA; Daniel K. Inouye of Honolulu, HI; Robert D. Maxwell of Bend, OR; Vernon McGarity of Memphis, TN; Nicholas Oresko of Creskill, NJ; Wilburn K. Ross of Dupont, WA; and George T. Sakato of Denver, CO, all of whom served with the U.S. Army. Arthur J. Jackson of Boise, ID; and Hershel W. Williams of Ona, WV; served with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Sadly, Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Vernon McGarity died before the stamps could be issued, as did Nicholas Oresko, who died after the stamps were printed. Their photographs are still included, as they remain among the last representatives of a remarkable group whose courage and devotion we honor with this issuance.
The two center pages list the names of all 464 recipients of the Medal of Honor from World War II. A short piece of text and a key to the names of the recipients pictured in the cover photos are also included on page two. The remaining 18 stamps are found on the back page, along with a quote describing why the Medal of Honor is awarded, “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty.” Art director Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA, designed the stamps and the new format, while working with photographs of the medals by Richard Frasier of Vienna, VA.
Medal of Honor Background
The Medal of Honor, our nation’s most prestigious military decoration, is awarded by the president of the United States to members who distinguished themselves “conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States...” Only 464 of the 16 million members who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II were deemed to have met the standard necessary to warrant the Medal of Honor. Of the 464 recipients, over half were killed in action while performing the valorous actions that resulted in an award of the Medal of Honor.
The idea for the Medal of Honor was conceived during the first year of the Civil War. Men were fighting for their country, yet the nation had no formal system for recognizing or rewarding acts of heroism. Then a senator from Iowa, James W. Grimes, introduced a bill to “promote the efficiency of the Navy” by distributing “medals of honor.” President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill into law on December 21, 1861. Lincoln signed a similar measure on behalf of the U.S. Army on July 12, 1862, and the country had two Medals of Honor: one for sailors and one for soldiers. By the time the Civil War ended, 1,525 medals had been awarded, including one to Army surgeon Mary Walker, the only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor.
Because it was the country’s only military medal, the Medal of Honor was awarded more freely at first. But after World War I broke out, the Army and Navy created a series of new decorations to recognize different degrees of accomplishment, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, and the Citation Star, later replaced by the Silver Star. As a result, only 124 Medals of Honor were awarded for service in World War I.
There are three similar, yet distinct, versions of the Medal of Honor, one for each military department (Army, Navy, and Air Force). The medals are similar in that each consists of a variation of a five-pointed star worn around the neck on a light blue ribbon. The Navy version is awarded to those serving in the Navy and Marine Corps, and during times of war, to members of the Coast Guard. Although not required by any military regulation, according to tradition and the nature of the award, even a four-star general will salute a private who wears the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor Myths and Facts
MYTH: Those who have received the Medal of Honor are “winners” of the highest order.
FACT: You do not “win” the Medal of Honor, you earn it, and those who have received the Medal are referred to as “receipents”.
MYTH: The Medal of Honor is properly called the Congressional Medal of Honor.
FACT: The proper terminology is Medal of Honor. The misunderstanding may stem from the fact the Medal is awarded “in the name of the Congress.” The fact that the Congress chartered the Society of living Medal of Honor recipients as the “Congressional Medal of Honor Society” in 1958 also confuses the issue.
MYTH: Medals of Honor have always been awarded only to members of the military while in combat.
FACT: There was a time when the Medal of Honor was awarded to some individuals for their actions in peacetime. Among them were Admiral Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett who were awarded the Medal of Honor for their flight over the North Pole. Charles Lindbergh also received the Medal of Honor for his non-stop flight from New York City to Paris. Since 1940, all Medals of Honor have been awarded for heroism in combat.
MYTH: No women have ever received the Medal of Honor.
FACT: One woman, Dr. Mary Walker, received the Medal of Honor for her actions during the Civil War caring for wounded Union soldiers on the battlefield and then caring for the sick and wounded as a prisoner of war. Her Medal was rescinded by a board of review in 1916 because she was a contract surgeon and not a member of the military. Her Medal was reinstated during the administration of President Carter.
MYTH: The reason so few Medals of Honor have been awarded in recent years is because the criteria has been tightened.
FACT: The criteria for awarding the Medal of Honor has not changed in recent years, but the nature of warfare has changed dramatically. Today, our military uses technology (e.g., night vision goggles, standoff weapons, improved tactics, etc.) to its advantage to minimize threats to the troops. That said, there are still situations where troops are in close contact with the enemy and have demonstrated extraordinary courage warranting award of the Medal of Honor.
MYTH: No Medals of Honor have been awarded to a member of a foreign military.
FACT: The Medal of Honor has been awarded to the unknown soldiers of the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, and Romania from World War I.
Little Known Facts
n More than 60 percent of the Medals of Honor awarded since the beginning of World War II have been awarded posthumously.
n No Asian Americans or African Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II. This was redressed in the early 1990s when, upon review, seven Medals of Honor were awarded to African Americans from World War II and, in 2000, 22 Medals to Asian Americans from World War II.
n There have been two father/son awards of the Medal of Honor. One was President Theodore Roosevelt for leading the charge on San Juan Hill, and his son, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., for actions on D-Day in World War II. The second was Douglas MacArthur for his heroic action during the Civil War, and his son, Douglas MacArthur, Jr., for action during World War II.
n There have been 19 double recipients of the Medal of Honor. Five of those double awards were for the same action.
n The remains of the unknowns interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery from World War I, World War II, and Korea have been awarded the Medal of Honor by the president of the United States following those conflicts. Originally, the remains of the unknown from the Vietnam War were also entombed in the Tomb of the Unknowns and awarded the Medal of Honor. However, because of advances in science, those remains were identified through DNA and returned to the family.
Sample Media Advisory
Contact: [Name]
XXX.XXX.XXXX
name@usps.gov
usps.com/news
(Name) Post Office Dedicates Medal of Honor: World War II Stamps or
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient (Name) Joins (Name)
Post Office in Medal of Honor Stamp Ceremony
High-resolution images of the stamps are available for media use only by emailing
mark.r.saunders@usps.gov
WHAT: Special dedication ceremony for the Medal of Honor: World War II Forever® stamps.
WHEN: Day, Date, Time
WHERE: Location
Location Address
City, State ZIP
WHO: (Optional: World War II Medal of Honor recipient, NAME)
Title, Name
Title, Name
Title, Name
BACKGROUND: More than 16 million Americans served in the armed forces during World War II; 464 were singled out to receive the Medal of Honor. Of that number, nearly half died as a result of their heroic actions and received the honor posthumously. Only nine are alive today. The Postal Service is issuing the stamps depicting the Medals of Honor with photographs of the living recipients on the stamp sheet as an appropriate way to pay respect to all 464 recipients whose names are included in the Medal of Honor: World War II Forever stamp prestige folio.
(Optional: Name of World War II recipient and background on citation as contained in the sample Medal of Honor speech).
Pictured (clockwise from top left) are Charles H. Coolidge of Chattanooga, TN; Francis S. Currey of Selkirk, NY; Walter D. Ehlers of Buena Park, CA; John D. Hawk of Bremerton, WA; Daniel K. Inouye of Honolulu, HI; Robert D. Maxwell of Bend, OR; Vernon McGarity of Memphis, TN; Nicholas Oresko of Creskill, NJ; Wilburn K. Ross of Dupont, WA; and George T. Sakato of Denver, CO, all of whom served with the U.S. Army. Arthur J. Jackson of Boise, ID; and Hershel W. Williams of Ona, WV; served with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Sadly, Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Vernon McGarity died before the stamps could be issued, as did Nicholas Oresko, who died after the stamps were printed. Their photographs are still included, as they remain among the last representatives of a remarkable group whose courage and devotion we honor with this issuance.
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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation — 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office™ Boxes. The Postal Service™ receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With more than 31,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, http://usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private-sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 42nd in the 2012 Fortune 500. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency for seven years and the fourth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.
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Sample News Release
Month XX, 2013 Contact: [Name]
XXX.XXX.XXXX
name@usps.gov
usps.com/news
[Name] Post Office Dedicates Medal of Honor: World War II Stamps
(Optional: Recognizes Medal of Honor Recipient NAME)
High-resolution images of the stamps are available for media use only be emailing mark.r.saunders@usps.gov.
City, State — The [Name] Post Office paid tribute to 464 World War II Medal of Honor recipients by dedicating the Medal of Honor: World War II Forever® stamp Prestige Folio at the [Name of Location] today.
Available today as a set of 20 stamps, customers may purchase the stamps at http://usps.com/stamps, at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), at Post Offices nationwide or at http://ebay.com/stamps.
(Optional: The [Name] Post Office paid tribute to World War II Medal of Honor recipient [Name] during a special dedication ceremony at [Name of Location] of the Medal of Honor: World War II Prestige Folio Forever stamps. [Name] is one of only nine (need to verify prior to event) living recipients of 464 heroic Americans who received the honor during the second world war.
[Name] received the nation’s highest award for valor in combat for (details from the official citation)].
“America is grateful to you,” said USPS Official. “No one can begin to fathom what you endured during the most horrific experience of your life. The total disregard for your own safety and your selfless commitment to protect your fellow (soldiers (if Army) or Marines (if Marines) truly exemplifies you as a hero and an example of character Americans should strive for.”
(If the Medal of Honor recipient agrees to provide a quote, insert it here).
The Medal of Honor: World War II Prestige Folio is a new format for stamp introduction. The first side of this four-page design highlights historical photographs of the last living recipients of the Medal of Honor from World War II. One stamp features a photograph of the Navy version of the Medal of Honor. The other stamp features a photograph of the Army version of the Medal of Honor. The Air Force version is not pictured as it was not created until 1965. The two center pages list the names of all 464 recipients of the Medal of Honor from World War II. A short piece of text and a key to the names of the recipients pictured in the cover photos are included on the second page. The remaining 18 stamps are found on the back page. Art director Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA, designed the stamps and the new format, while working with photographs of the medals by Richard Frasier of Vienna, VA.
More than 16 million Americans served in the armed forces during World War II; 464 were singled out to receive the Medal of Honor. Of that number, nearly half died as a result of their heroic actions and received the honor posthumously. The Postal Service is issuing the stamps depicting the Medals of Honor with photographs of the living recipients on the stamp sheet as an appropriate way to recognize the living, while still paying respect to all 464 recipients whose names are included in the Medal of Honor: World War II Forever stamp prestige folio. Twelve recipients were alive when approached by the Postal Service to include their photographs.
Pictured (clockwise from top left) are Charles H. Coolidge of Chattanooga, TN; Francis S. Currey of Selkirk, NY; Walter D. Ehlers of Buena Park, CA; John D. Hawk of Bremerton, WA; Daniel K. Inouye of Honolulu, HI; Robert D. Maxwell of Bend, OR; Vernon McGarity of Memphis, TN; Nicholas Oresko of Creskill, NJ; Wilburn K. Ross of Dupont, WA; and George T. Sakato of Denver, CO, all of whom served with the U.S. Army. Arthur J. Jackson of Boise, ID; and Hershel W. Williams of Ona, WV; served with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Sadly, Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Vernon McGarity died before the stamps could be issued, as did Nicholas Oresko, who died after the stamps were printed. Their photographs are still included, as they remain among the last representatives of a remarkable group whose courage and devotion we honor with this issuance.
The Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor in combat, is presented “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty.”
The idea for the Medal of Honor was conceived during the first year of the Civil War. Men were fighting for their country, yet the nation had no formal system for recognizing or rewarding acts of heroism. Then a senator from Iowa, James W. Grimes, introduced a bill to “promote the efficiency of the Navy” by distributing “medals of honor.” President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill into law on December 21, 1861. Lincoln signed a similar measure on behalf of the U.S. Army on July 12, 1862, and the country had two Medals of Honor: one for sailors and one for soldiers. By the time the Civil War ended, 1,525 medals had been awarded, including one to Army surgeon Mary Walker, the only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor.
Because it was the country’s only military medal, the Medal of Honor was awarded more freely at first. But after World War I broke out, the Army and Navy created a series of new decorations to recognize different degrees of accomplishment, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, and the Citation Star, later replaced by the Silver Star. As a result, only 124 Medals of Honor were awarded for service in World War I.
There are three similar, yet distinct, versions of the Medal of Honor, one for each military department (Army, Navy and Air Force). The medals are similar in that each consists of a variation of a five-pointed star worn around the neck on a light blue ribbon. The Navy version is awarded to those serving in the Navy and Marine Corps, and during times of war, to members of the Coast Guard. Although not required by any military regulation, according to tradition and the nature of the award, even a four-star general will salute a private who wears the Medal of Honor. Visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website at http://www.cmohs.org for information on all Medal of Honor recipients.
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at local Post Offices, at http://usps.com/stamps or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others, and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:
Medal of Honor Stamps
Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, there is a 5-cent charge per postmark. All orders must be postmarked by January 11, 2014.
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog online at http://usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:
U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
There are eight philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
n 581006, Press Sheet with Die Cuts, $27.60 (print quantity of 2,500).
n 581008, Press Sheet without Die cuts, $27.60 (print quantity of 2,500).
n 581010, Keepsake (Prestige Folio & Digital Color Postmark Set of 2), $12.95.
n 581016, First-Day Cover Set of 2, $1.80.
n 581021, Digital Color Postmark Set of 2, $3.22.
n 581030, Ceremony Program (Random Stamp), $6.95.
n 581031, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95.
n 587032, Stamp Deck Card w/Digital Color Postmark (random single), $1.96.
Customers may view the Medal of Honor: World War II Forever stamps Prestige Folio, as well as many of this year’s other stamps, on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, on Twitter @USPSstamps, or on the website http://USPSstamps.com, the Postal Service’s online site for information on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events, and other philatelic news.
# # #
Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at http://usps.com/news/welcome.htm.
A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation — 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office™ Boxes. The Postal Service™ receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With more than 31,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, http://usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private-sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 42nd in the 2012 Fortune 500. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency for seven years and the fourth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.
Follow the Postal Service on www.twitter.com/USPS and at www.facebook.com/USPS
Sample Speech:
[Postal Service Official’s Name And Title]
United States Postal Service
Medal of Honor: World War II Stamps Special Dedication Ceremony
Date, City, State
Good [Morning/Afternoon/Evening]. My name is ______________________ and I’m [Title] for the United States Postal Service. Welcome to this event.
OR:
Thank you, ______________________, for your kind introduction. And thank you all for joining us for this event. [Optional: Add A Brief Comment About How This Location Relates To Medal of Honor]
I also want to thank our special guests for joining us in [City/Town/Type of Setting].
In particular, I’m glad that our good friend(s) [Name of Elected Official] is here, along with [Other Individuals Who Should Be Recognized].
Could I ask the veterans in our audience to please stand or raise their hands, starting with those who have served overseas since 2001?
(Applause)
How about those who served during Desert Storm?
(Applause)
Vietnam?
(Applause?)
Korea?
(Applause)
And do we have any World War II veterans with us today?
(Applause)
Thank you. And if I may speak for everyone here, we salute and thank you for preserving democracy.
(Applause)
The Medal of Honor is our nation’s most prestigious military decoration. It’s awarded by the president to members who distinguished themselves “conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity, at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States...”
Of the 16 million who served America in World War II, only 464 received the Medal of Honor. Nearly half of them died as a result of their heroic actions and received the honor posthumously. Only nine are alive today.
The stamps depicting the Medals of Honor include photographs of the last 12 living recipients at the time the prestige folio stamps were designed. It’s an appropriate way to recognize the living, while still paying respect to all recipients whose names are included in the Medal of Honor: World War II stamp set.
Now, on behalf of the United States Postal Service, I want to invite [Insert Names Here] to join me in unveiling the Medal of Honor: World War II Forever stamps.
[Unveil Stamp. Pose For Photos.]
([Name] returns to podium)
I would like to take just a few moments to briefly review the heroic achievements of the men who appear on the display behind me.
Charles H. Coolidge, 23, of Chattanooga, TN. On October 24, 1944, Coolidge’s unit encountered a company-sized enemy force of nearly 200 battle-hardened Germans. Attempting a bluff, Coolidge ordered them to surrender. Instead, they attacked. They were repulsed but returned later, this time with tank support. Coolidge countered, attacking the enemy with all the hand grenades he could carry and inflicting heavy enemy casualties. When it became apparent his unit would be overrun, Coolidge directed his men to withdraw.
Francis S. Currey, 19, of Selkirk, NY. On December 21, 1944, Sergeant Currey and his platoon were defending a small Belgian town with small arms. Facing a column of German tanks, Currey and his unit destroyed several enemy positions, which allowed a surrounded American unit to escape. Pinned down by tanks and infantrymen with five other men, Currey exposed himself to enemy fire, destroying more enemy positions to gather ammunition and rescue five American soldiers.
Walter D. Ehlers (pronounced eel-ers), 23, of Buena Park, CA. Shortly after D-Day, Staff Sergeant Ehlers led his squad against an enemy stronghold. Crawling forward under machine gun fire, he destroyed the gun crew. After eliminating a mortar position, he destroyed a second machine gun nest. The next day, after his squad was ordered to withdraw, he diverted the bulk of the heavy hostile fire to himself, permitting his men to pull back unharmed. Though wounded, he carried another injured rifleman to safety and returned to retrieve his weapon.
John D. Hawk , 21, of Bremerton, WA. On August 20, 1944, in Chambois, France, Sergeant Hawk, wounded during a strong counterattack, climbed to an exposed spot and directed fire at enemy tanks. He repeatedly returned through intense fire to relay corrected ranges to gun crews. Hawk’s actions repelled the attack, which led to the surrender of 500 enemy troops.
Daniel K. Inouye, 21, of Honolulu, HI. On April 21, 1945, while attacking an enemy unit guarding an important road junction in Italy, Second Lieutenant Inouye crawled up a well-defended slope and destroyed two machine gun emplacements with hand grenades. He continued to engage the enemy at close range until an exploding grenade shattered his right arm. He refused evacuation and continued to direct his platoon until the enemy was defeated and his men were deployed in defensive positions. In the attack, 25 enemy soldiers were killed and eight others captured.
Robert D. Maxwell, 23, of Bend, OR. On September 7, 1944, in Besançon, France, Technician Fifth Grade Robert Maxwell and a three-man squad, armed only with .45-caliber automatic pistols, defended a battalion observation post against an enemy onslaught. When a hand grenade landed in the midst of his squad, he unhesitatingly hurled himself upon it, absorbing the full force of the explosion.
Vernon McGarity, 23, of Memphis, TN. On December 16, 1944, near Krinkelt, Belgium, Technical Sergeant McGarity, already wounded, single-handedly disabled a German tank. The enemy captured McGarity and his men after the squad had used all its ammunition. His heroism allowed vital military communications to be repaired during the withdrawal of McGarity’s headquarters unit.
Nicholas Oresko, 27,of Creskill, NJ. In January 1945, Master Sergeant Nicholas Oresko’s unit incurred fire from a machine gun in a nearby bunker. Oresko braved enemy fire to approach the bunker, throwing a grenade into the German position. When another machine gun began firing at him, seriously wounding him in the hip, Oresko destroyed the second bunker. Weak from loss of blood, he refused to be evacuated until he knew his unit’s mission was successful.
Wilburn K. Ross, 22, of Dupont, WA. On October 30, 1944, near St. Jacques, France, after his company lost all but three of its men while fighting a company of elite German mountain troops, Ross positioned his light machine gun in front of his riflemen and began firing to absorb the enemy’s attack. He killed or wounded 58 Germans in more than five hours of continuous combat and saved the surviving remnants of his company. He remained at his post for a total of 36 hours.
George T. Sakato of Denver, CO. A Japanese American, Sakato volunteered for service and was assigned to an infantry unit. On October 29, 1944, in the vicinity of Biffontaine, France, his unit was pinned down by heavy enemy fire. Sakato launched a one-man rush that inspired his platoon to charge and destroy the enemy strongpoint. During this action, he killed 12, wounded two and personally captured four enemy soldiers.
These distinguished servicemen served with the U.S. Army. You’ve heard that the Marines are looking for a few good men. Here are two of them.
Private First Class Arthur J. Jackson, 20, of Boise, ID. On September 18, 1944, in the Western Pacific, Jackson’s platoon was pinned down by enemy fire. Jackson charged a pillbox, hurling white phosphorus grenades and explosive charges into the installation and killing all 35 enemy soldiers. Continuing to storm one position after another, he destroyed 12 pillboxes and killed 50 enemy soldiers.
Marine Corporal Hershel W. Williams of Ona, WV. On February 23, 1945, on the island of Iwo Jima, Corporal Williams volunteered to open a lane for tanks in an area defended by pillboxes and mines. Williams fought for hours, wiping out one position after another. Near one pillbox, he charged enemy riflemen attempting to stop him with bayonets, killing them with a burst from his flamethrower. His heroism was directly responsible for neutralizing one of the island’s most fanatically defended positions.
Sadly, Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Vernon McGarity died before the stamps could be issued. Nicholas Oresko also has died since the stamps were printed. Their photographs are still included, as they remain among the last representatives of a remarkable group whose courage and devotion we honor with this issuance.
We hope you use these Medal of Honor stamps when corresponding to loved ones overseas or here at home.
Thank you for attending today’s event.
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Obtaining Medal of Honor Stamp Enlargements
Poster-sized blowups of the Medal of Honor: World War II Forever stamps can be purchased through Colours Imaging, http://coloursimaging.com, by contacting Zach Scott, zscott@coloursinc.com, or 703-379-1121.
Area Corporate Communications Managers
Please feel free to contact your area communications manager for assistance in promoting your event.
Capital Metro
George Maffett
Telephone: 301-548-1465
email: george.t.maffett@usps.gov
Eastern
Paul Smith
Telephone: 215-863-5055
email: paul.f.smith@usps.gov
Great Lakes
Victor Dubina
Telephone: 630-539-6565
email: victor.dubina@usps.gov
Pacific
Don Smeraldi
Telephone: 858-674-3149
email: don.a.smeraldi@usps.gov
Northeast
Maureen Marion
Telephone: 860-285-7029
email: maureen.p.marion@usps.gov
Southern
Polly Gibbs
Telephone: 214-819-8704
email: polly.j.gibbs@usps.gov
Western
John Friess
Telephone: 303-313-5130
email: john.g.friess@usps.gov
Congressional State/Manager/Representative Listing
Please dial 202.268.XXXX to contact the following individuals for assistance in inviting elected officials.
— Media Relations,
Corporate Communications, 10-31-13
