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.

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 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.” In January 2012, the U.S. Postal Service® invited the last living recipients of the award from the Korean War to join in honoring the extraordinary courage of every individual who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the war.

More than 6.8 million people served with the American armed forces during the Korean War, but only 145 received the Medal of Honor. The road to receiving this medal is a long one. After being recommended, honorees are reviewed by a lengthy chain of command, starting with their superiors and ending with the Secretary of Defense and the President. More than two-thirds of the men who received the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Korean War were killed in action.