A Joint Service Committee, headed by the Chief of Military History of the U.S. Army and formed through the Department of Defense in 1985, assisted the U.S. Postal Service in development of the World War II series. The committee advised on which subjects should be chosen for commemoration. Included on the committee were military historians from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Advice regarding significant events of the war period also was sought from the Department of State historian.