World War II Medal of Honor recipients George Sakato and Wilburn Ross pose with Irene Hirano Inouye, widow of Sen. Daniel Inouye; Vietnaw War MOH recipient Harvey "Barney" Barnum; and Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe after the unveiling of two Medal of Honor stamps Monday at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
World War II Medal of Honor recipients George Sakato and Wilburn Ross pose with Irene Hirano Inouye, widow of Sen. Daniel Inouye; Vietnaw War MOH recipient Harvey "Barney" Barnum; and Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe after the unveiling of two Medal of Honor stamps Monday at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Three members of the “Greatest Generation” await the start of Veterans Day ceremonies at the National World War II Memorial on Monday. ()
Medal of Honor recipients Wilburn Ross and Harvey "Barney" Barnum are joined by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley during a wreath-laying ceremony Monday at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
George Sakato, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, gestures at his portrait after helping unveil a new postage stamp dedicated to MOH recipients from WWII on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Postal Service issued the stamp in honor of the last 12 living medal recipients from the war, although only eight were living at the time of the ceremony. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
Wilburn Ross, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, after laying a wreath at the WWII memorial in Washington, D.C. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013. Ross also helped unveil a new postage stamp dedicated to MOH recipients from WWII. The U.S. Postal Service issued the stamp in honor of the last 12 living medal recipients from the war, although only eight were living at the time of the ceremony. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
George Sakato, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, helps lay a wreath at the WWII memorial in Washington, D.C. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013. Sakato also helped unveil a new postage stamp dedicated to MOH recipients from WWII on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Postal Service issued the stamp in honor of the last 12 living medal recipients from the war, although only eight were living at the time of the ceremony. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
A close-up of George Sakato's Medal of Honor. Sakato, an Army private during World War II, was among 12 of the last living recipients from the war honored by the U.S. Postal Service in a new stamp unveiled on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
Wilburn Ross, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, helps unveils a new postage stamp dedicated to MOH recipients from WWII on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. His portrait is on the bottom left of the stamp sheet. The U.S. Postal Service issued the stamp in honor of the last 12 living medal recipients from the war, although only eight were living at the time of the ceremony. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
Irene Hirano Inouye poses with a picture of her late husband, Sen. Daniel Inouye, a Medal of Honor recipient, at the unveiling of a new postage stamp dedicated to MOH recipients from WWII on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Postal Service issued the stamp in honor of the last 12 living medal recipients from the war, although only eight were living at the time of the ceremony. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
George Sakato, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, helps unveils a new postage stamp dedicated to MOH recipients from WWII on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Postal Service issued the stamp in honor of the last 12 living medal recipients from the war, although only eight were living at the time of the ceremony. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
The U.S. Air Force Band Brass Quintet plays on Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
The Armed Forces Color Guard on Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. ( Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Medal of Honor recipient Wilburn Ross autographs a stamp booklet on Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Medal of Honor recipient Harvey "Barney" Barnum displays a plaque he received in conjunction with the issuance of the Medal of Honor stamp on Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans Day 2013 at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — As a Japanese-American during World War II, George Sakato felt he had to prove his loyalty to the United States.
So he enlisted in the Army in March 1944 and joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a unit made up mostly of Japanese-Americans. In October of that year, then-Pvt. Sakato made a one-man rush on an enemy strongpoint in northern France. He killed 12 enemy fighters, wounded two, captured four and successfully defended the spot along with his platoon — a feat that would earn him the Medal of Honor.
Now, he has another accolade to add to his list: He is among the last 12 living Medal of Honor recipients from WWII who have been honored with a U.S. postage stamp set, which was unveiled on Veterans Day.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Sakato, 92, describing his reaction when he heard his portrait was going to be included on the sheet surrounding the actual stamps. “I thought someone was pulling my leg.”
His medal and now the stamp set validates the pain that Japanese-Americans endured during the era, he said. Sakato worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 27 years after he left the Army.
“This shows what we had to go through, what we stand for,” Sakato said. “We want to be looked up to rather than being looked down upon. … That’s why I joined the Army, to prove my loyalty to the United States of America.”
The USPS had chosen to honor the last 12 living MOH recipients from WWII when the effort started in January 2012. However, Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Vernon McGarity, Nicholas Oresko and John Hawk died before the stamps were revealed to the public.
“They saw what they looked like, but couldn’t be here today,” said USPS spokesman Mark Saunders. “It’s really a shame.”
The stamps show the Navy and Army versions of the medal — the Air Force version wasn’t created until after the war, in 1965 — and the new format “prestige folio” set lists the names of all 464 recipients from WWII. Black-and-white portraits of the last 12 living recipients in their youth surround the actual stamps on the sheet.
“In my mind, it’s the most prestigious stamp we’ve ever issued because it honors all the recipients,” Saunders said. “These are humble Americans who did extraordinary things.”
“We hope that the stamps are small reminders of the big sacrifices that the men and women have made to keep our country free,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe.
Also on hand for the dedication ceremony at the WWII memorial was Medal of Honor recipient Wilburn Ross, an Army private who manned his machine gun in front of his decimated company to stave off a counterattack from a full-strength company of elite German troops in October 1944 in France.
He singlehandedly held off six attacks despite automatic fire and grenades landing near him during a five-hour battle, wounding or killing at least 58 enemies and eventually forced the Germans to withdraw.
Ross’ portrait also appears on the stamp sheet.
“I think it’s wonderful that, hopefully, they won’t be forgotten,” said Michelle Shaw, Ross’ daughter.
lin.cj@stripes.com Twitter: @cjlinSS
