On Saturday, July 26, 2014, at 11 a.m. ET, the Postal Service™ will conduct the first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Medal of Honor: Korean War Forever® stamps. The ceremony will take place in Arlington, VA, at the Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Amphitheater. Many veterans and Medal of Honor recipients are expected to attend.
Only 145 of the 6.8 million members who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Korean War were deemed to have met the standard necessary to warrant the Medal of Honor. Two-thirds of the 145 recipients were killed in action while performing the valorous actions that resulted in an award of the Medal of Honor.
Pictured clockwise from top right center are the surviving Korean War Medal of Honor recipients:
n Hector A. Cafferata, Jr. of Venice, FL:
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3091/cafferata-hector-a-jr.php.
n William R. Charette of Lake Wales, FL: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3093/charette-william-r.php.
n Duane E. Dewey of Irons, MI: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3108/dewey-duane-e.php.
n Rodolfo P. Hernandez of Fayetteville, NC: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3127/hernandez-rodolfo-p.php.
n Thomas Jerome Hudner, Jr. of Concord, MA: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3128/hudner-thomas-jerome-jr.php.
n Einar H. Ingman, Jr. of Irma, WI: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3129/ingman-einar-h-jr.php.
n Hiroshi H. Miyamura of Gallup, NM: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3160/miyamura-hiroshi-h.php.
n Ola L. Mize of Gadsden, AL: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3161/mize-ola-l.php.
n Ronald E. Rosser of Roseville, OH: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3182/rosser-ronald-e.php.
n Tibor Rubin of Garden Grove, CA: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3183/rubin-tibor.php
n Robert E. Simanek of Farmington Hills, MI: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3189/simanek-robert-e.php.
n James L. Stone of Arlington, TX: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3195/stone-james-l.php.
n Ernest E. West of Wurtland, KY: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3205/west-ernest-e.php.
Sadly, William R. Charette, James L. Stone, Rodolfo P. Hernandez, and Ola L. Mize died before the stamps could be issued. Their photographs are still included as they were alive at the time of the stamp proposal.
Postmasters are asked to conduct special dedication ceremonies no sooner than July 26, 2014, 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 the 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 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.
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.
Korean War: Medal of Honor Stamp Sheet
The Medal of Honor: Korean War stamp sheet 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 13 living recipients of the Medal of Honor from the Korean War. 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 Korean War 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.
The two center pages list the names of all 145 recipients of the Medal of Honor from the Korean War. 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 of the armed forces 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.
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 and 464 for World War II.
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 “recipients.”
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 criterion 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. For the Korean War, more than seven out of ten recipients died to receive this honor.
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
Phone
name@usps.gov
www.usps.com/news
(Name) Post Office Dedicates
Medal of Honor: Korean War Forever Stamps
or
Korean War 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: Korean War Forever® stamps.
WHEN: Day, Date, Time
WHERE: Location
Location Address
City, State ZIP
WHO: (Optional: Korean War Medal of Honor recipient, NAME)
Title, Name
Title, Name
Title, Name
BACKGROUND: Of the 6.8 million Americans who served in the armed forces during the Korean War, only 145 received the Medal of Honor. More than two-thirds of the recipients were killed in action. 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 recognize the living while still paying respect to all 145 recipients whose names are included in the Medal of Honor: Korean War Forever stamp prestige folio.
(Optional: Name of Korean War recipient and background on citation as contained in the sample Medal of Honor speech).
Pictured clockwise from top right center are the surviving Korean War Medal of Honor recipients: Hector A. Cafferata, Jr. of Venice, FL; William R. Charette of Lake Wales, FL (d. 3/18/12); Duane E. Dewey of Irons, MI; Rodolfo P. Hernandez of Fayetteville, NC (d. 12/21/13); Thomas Jerome Hudner, Jr. of Concord, MA; Einar H. Ingman, Jr. of Irma, WI; Hiroshi H. Miyamura of Gallup, NM; Ola L. Mize of Gadsden, AL (d. 3/12/14); Ronald E. Rosser of Roseville, OH; Tibor Rubin of Garden Grove, CA; Robert E. Simanek of Farmington Hills, MI; James L. Stone of Arlington, TX (d. 11/9/12); and, Ernest E. West of Wurtland, KY.
Sadly, William R. Charette, James L. Stone, Rodolfo P. Hernandez, and Ola L. Mize died before the stamps could be issued. Their photographs are still included as they were alive at the time of the stamp proposal.
# # #
Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom.
Reporters interested in speaking with regional Postal Service public relations professionals should visit http://usps.com/news/welcome.htm. Under News archives, select a state under the “Local” heading.
Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/usps and like us at http://www.facebook.com/usps. For more information about the Postal Service, visit www.usps.com and www.usps.com/postalfacts.
Sample News Release
Month xx, 2014 Contact: Name
Phone
@usps.gov
usps.com/news
[Name] Post Office Dedicates Medal of Honor: Korean War 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 145 Korean War Medal of Honor recipients by dedicating the Medal of Honor: Korean War Forever® stamp prestige folio at the [Name Of Location] today.
Available today as a set of 20 stamps, customers may purchase the stamps at www.usps.com/stamps, at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), at Post Offices nationwide, or at www.ebay.com/stamps.
(Optional: The [Name] Post Office paid tribute to Korean War Medal of Honor recipient [Name] during a special dedication ceremony at [Name Of Location] regarding the Medal of Honor: Korean War prestige folio Forever stamps. ([Name] is one of only nine (need to verify prior to event) living recipients of 145 heroic Americans who received the honor during the Korean 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: Korean War prestige folio is a four-page design highlighting historical photographs of the last living recipients of the Medal of Honor from the Korean War. 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 145 recipients of the Medal of Honor from the Korean War. 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 6.8 million Americans served in the armed forces during the Korean War; 145 were singled out to receive the Medal of Honor. Of that number, more than two-thirds 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 145 recipients whose names are included in the Medal of Honor: Korean War Forever stamp prestige folio. Thirteen recipients were alive when approached by the Postal Service to include their photographs.
Pictured clockwise from top right center are the surviving Korean War Medal of Honor recipients: Hector A. Cafferata, Jr. of Venice, FL; William R. Charette of Lake Wales, FL (d. 3/18/12); Duane E. Dewey of Irons, MI; Rodolfo P. Hernandez of Fayetteville, NC (d. 12/21/13); Thomas Jerome Hudner, Jr. of Concord, MA; Einar H. Ingman, Jr. of Irma, WI; Hiroshi H. Miyamura of Gallup, NM; Ola L. Mize of Gadsden, AL (d. 3/12/14); Ronald E. Rosser of Roseville, OH; Tibor Rubin of Garden Grove, CA; Robert E. Simanek of Farmington Hills, MI; James L. Stone of Arlington, TX (d. 11/9/12); and, Ernest E. West of Wurtland, KY.
Sadly, William R. Charette, James L. Stone, Rodolfo P. Hernandez, and Ola L. Mize died before the stamps could be issued. Their photographs are still included, as they were alive at the time of the stamp proposal.
The Nation’s Highest Award for Valor in Combat
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.
Ordering First-Day-of-Issue Postmarks
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at local Post Offices, at 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: Korean War
Arlington Main Office
3118 Washington Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201-9998
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 September 24, 2014.
Ordering First-Day Covers
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 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
Philatelic Products
There are nine philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
n 587406 Press Sheet w/Die cuts, $29.40 (print quantity 1,000).
n 587408 Press Sheets w/o Die cuts, $29.40 (print quantity 1,500).
n 587410 Keepsake w/Digital Color Postmark (Set of 2), $13.95.
n 587416 First-Day Cover (Set of 2), $1.86.
n 587421 Digital Color Postmark (Set of 2), $3.28.
n 587424 Framed Art, $39.95.
n 587430 Ceremony Program, $6.95.
n 587431 Stamped Deck Card, $0.95.
n 587432 Stamped Deck Card w/Digital Color Postmark, $1.99.
Customers may view many of this year’s other stamps on www.facebook.com/uspsstamps, www.twitter.com/usps, www.instagram.com/uspostalservice or on www.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.
Reporters interested in speaking with regional Postal Service public relations professionals should visit visit http://usps.com/news/welcome.htm. Under News archives, select a state under the “Local” heading.
Follow us on www.twitter.com/USPS and like us at www.facebook.com/USPS. For more information about the Postal Service, visit www.usps.com and www.usps.com/postalfacts.
Sample Speech:
Postal Service Official’s Name And Title
United States Postal Service
Medal of Honor: Korean War 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?)
World War II?
(Applause)
And do we have any Korean War 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 6.8 million who served America in the Korean War, only 145 received the Medal of Honor. Two-thirds of them died as a result of their heroic actions and received the honor posthumously.
The stamps depicting the Medals of Honor include photographs of the last 13 living recipients at the time the prestige folio stamps were designed. Only nine are alive today. 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: Korean War 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: Korean War 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. They are pictured from the top right center in clockwise order.
On Nov. 24, 1950, Private Hector Cafferata waged a lone battle with his rifle and grenades to protect his fellow Marines. Making a target of himself, he killed 15, wounded more, and forced the enemy to withdraw. Later that morning an enemy grenade landed in a shallow entrenchment of wounded Marines. Under heavy fire, Cafferata rushed into the gully and hurled it free of his comrades before it exploded, severing part of a finger and seriously wounding him. He continued to fight until hit by a sniper’s bullet. President Truman awarded him the Medal of Honor on November 24, 1952.
On March 27, 1953, William Charette covered a wounded Marine from a grenade explosion near Panmunjom, Korea, saving the man's life. On January 12, 1954, Charette became the only living Navy corpsman to receive the Medal during the Korean War.
On April 16, 1952, while being treated by a Navy corpsman near Panmunjom, Korea, Corporal Duane Dewey covered a grenade that fell on the ground beside them, saving the medic's life. On March 12, 1953, President Eisenhower presented Dewey with the Medal of Honor.
On May 31, 1951, Corporal Rodolfo “Rudy” Hernandez held his position against an overwhelming enemy attack, stopping the advance at Wontong-ni, South Korea; he would struggle through years of rehabilitation for injuries he received that day. Hernandez was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 12, 1952.
On December 4, 1950, Lieutenant Thomas Hudner, Jr., crash-landed his aircraft at the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, in an attempt to save his flight leader, who was trapped in a shot-down plane. On April 13, 1951, Hudner became the first American serviceman in the Korean War to receive the Medal of Honor.
After assuming command of two squads whose leaders were wounded on February 26, 1951, Sgt. Einar Ingman singlehandedly charged and destroyed a machine gun nest with a grenade before killing the remaining crew by rifle. When a second machine gun opened fire 15 yards away Ingman charged it and was seriously wounded in the face and neck by a hail of fire and grenade fragments — knocking him to the ground. Using only his rifle, he rose to kill the entire gun crew before falling unconscious. As a result, enemy defenses were broken, his squad secured its objective, and more than 100 enemy troops abandoned their weapons and fled. President Harry Truman presented the Medal of Honor to him on July 5, 1951.
Corporal Hiroshi Miyamura covered his unit's retreat during an overwhelming enemy attack near the Imjin River in North Korea on April 24, 1951. After two years of captivity in a Communist prison camp following the attack, Miyamura was repatriated and awarded the Medal of Honor, which was presented to him on October 27, 1953. Corporal Miyamura also fought with George Sakato and the late Senator Daniel Inouye who both received the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Second World War.
On the evening of June 10, 1953 and all through the next day, Sergeant Ola Mize led his men in fierce hand-to-hand combat to repel an overwhelming enemy attack near Surang-ni, South Korea. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 7, 1954.
On January 12, 1952, Corporal Ronald Rosser charged up an enemy-held hill near Ponggilli, Korea, single-handedly enabling the withdrawal of his decimated unit. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Truman on June 27, 1952.
Corporal Tibor Rubin, a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor, covered the withdrawal of his unit against a superior enemy force on October 30, 1950, and helped his fellow POWs survive while imprisoned in Korea until 1953. Recommended for the Medal of Honor four times, he finally received it 55 years later in 2005 after a review of Jewish-American veteran military records whose heroism might have been overlooked.
On August 17, 1952, at the Hook near Panmunjom, North Korea, Private First Class Robert Simanek, already injured by an exploding grenade, rolled himself on top of a second grenade thrown into his trench to save the lives of his fellow Marines. On October 27, 1953, Simanek was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Eisenhower.
On November 21–22, 1951, First Lieutenant James Stone repelled multiple enemy attacks in hand-to-hand combat before covering his unit’s withdrawal near Sokkogae, North Korea. After 22 months in a prison camp on the Yalu River, Stone was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 27, 1953, just one month after his repatriation.
Despite serious wounds, on October 12, 1952, Private First Class Ernest West fought off enemy forces and evacuated wounded soldiers following an ambush near Sataeri, Korea. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on January 12, 1954.
Sadly, William R. Charette, James L. Stone, Rodolfo P. Hernandez, and Ola L. Mize died before the stamps could be issued. Their photographs are still included, as they were alive at the time of the stamp proposal.
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.
# # #
Obtaining Medal of Honor Stamp Enlargements
Poster-sized blowups of the Medal of Honor: Korean War 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
Ed Moore (acting)
Telephone: 313-225-5452
email: edward.r.moore@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 when inviting elected officials.
— Public Relations,
Corporate Communications, 7-24-14
