PrintFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Community Relations 202-268-4924
November 10, 2005
Stamp News Release No. 05-053
www.usps.com
FOUR DISTINGUISHED MARINES SALUTED ON U.S. POSTAGE STAMPS
  Postmaster General John E. Potter shakes hands with Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee upon delivery of the Distinguished Marines commemorative 37-cent stamps during a dedication ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington, DC. The stamps, clockwise from left, depict legendary Marines John A. Lejeune, Lewis "Chesty" Puller, Daniel Daly and John Basilone, are available nationwide today. |
"The United States Postal Service is proud to honor the Marine Corps' 230-year tradition of excellence in military service to our nation," said Postmaster General John E. Potter, speaking from the Marines' Barracks in Washington, DC. "These four legendary Marines are inspirational examples of the U.S. Marine Corps extraordinary devotion to their proud motto: Semper Fi," he added, referring to the Marines' credo taken from the Latin phrase Semper Fidelis, meaning "always faithful."
Joining Potter at the Washington, DC, ceremony was General Michael W. Hagee, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps, and some of the relatives of the Marines depicted on the stamps.
"The Puller family is truly honored and pleased with this recognition. He was a revered Marine as well as a magnificent father," said Martha Puller Downs, one of Chesty Puller's two daughters. "The light of his life was mother, us, and the United States Marine Corps, and each of his three children have sons named for him," she added. "Father was there for us and showed us much affection. We did not want to let him down, and I do not think the Marines he served with did either. He was the constant encourager and had much faith in mankind. He would never give up on anyone."
Puller, one of the most decorated Marines in history, was held in high esteem by those who served under him. Getting his nickname for his barreled chest, Puller often ate and slept and showered in the same conditions as his men.
A First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony also took place at Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, CA, near San Diego. Joining USPS San Diego District Manager John E. Platt was Major General Michael Lehnert, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations West, and Major General Richard Natonski, commanding general, 1st Marine Division.
The stamps images, based on photographs, also include text identifying each of the four Marines. The approximate date of each photo and insignia also appear on each stamp (detailed background information on each Marine below).
Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone
The John Basilone stamp features a detail of a 1943 photograph of Basilone and the insignia of the 5th Marine Division. The recipient of the nation's highest military award, Basilone was recognized during World War II for holding 3,000 Japanese soldiers at bay for 72 hours during the battle of Guadalcanal with only 15 men, 12 of whom died. Following this act of heroism, Basilone was sent back to the U.S. to promote war bonds. Shortly thereafter, he requested return to his unit to, "be with my boys." He again distinguished himself by single-handedly destroying an enemy blockhouse and helped guide a friendly tank out of a minefield during the invasion of Iwo Jima, where he was killed during a shelling attack, Feb. 19, 1945, at the age of 28. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart.
Sergeant Major Daniel J. Daly
The Daniel J. Daly stamp features a detail from a photograph of Daly taken around 1919 and the insignia of the 73rd Machine Gun Company, which is a variation on the Army's 2nd Infantry Division insignia. During World War I, Daly served as a Marine with the 73rd Machine Gun Company in the 2nd Infantry Division. Acclaimed by Maj. Gen John A. Lejeune as "the outstanding Marine of all time," Daly received the Medal of Honor twice for separate acts of heroism.
In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, the defense of the American Embassy at Peking (now Beijing) was in the hands of a strong but small force of Marines. On the afternoon of July 13, German soldiers were driven back from their position on the east end of the wall. When a Marine captain asked for a volunteer to take up point and provide cover fire while repairs were made to the fortification, Daly stepped forward and said, "I'm your man." Daly held his position alone, throughout the night, withstanding repeated Boxer assaults, an accomplishment that earned him his first Congressional Medal of Honor.
In 1915, he was a recipient of his second medal when Marines were deployed to Haiti to protect American lives in the wake of an anti-government uprising. Daly was part of a night reconnaissance mission with 35 enlisted Marines and three officers when 400 Haitian bandits fired on them from three sides. The detachment found better position and fought them off throughout the night. At daybreak, the three squads of Marines advanced and surprised the enemy, scattering them in all directions.
Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune
The John A. Lejeune stamp features a detail from a circa 1924 photograph of Lejeune. The stamp also depicts the insignia of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division, which Lejeune commanded during World War I. Born in Pointe Coupee, LA, Lejeune (1867-1942) is best remembered as a wartime commander after being the first Marine General to command an Army division in combat during World War I. He is also credited with saving the Marine Corps from budget cuts and consolidations following World War I and establishing Marine Corps institutions and traditions. The Marine base located near Jacksonville, NC bears his name.
Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller
The Lewis B. Puller stamp features a photograph of Puller at Koto-ri, Korea, in 1950, and the insignia of the 1st Marine Division. Nicknamed for his barrel chest, Puller (1898-1971), born in West Point, VA, was one of the most famous Marine commanders in Corps history. He was a battalion commander and regimental commander with the 1st Marine Division during World War II and the Korean War.
True to himself and the Corps, Puller never was one to mince words.
During the Korean War, when surrounded by more than 100,000 Chinese soldiers at the Chosin Reservoir, Puller is believed to have said, "They're on our right, they're on our left, they're in front of us, they're behind us; they can't get away from us this time."
During his 37-year career, Puller was awarded 14 personal decorations in combat, five Navy Crosses (the nation's second highest award for valor), one Army Distinguished Service Cross plus a long list of campaign medals, unit citation ribbons and other awards. He began his career with the "Horse Soldiers" in China, then on to four World War II campaigns, the Korean War and expeditionary service in China, Nicaragua and Haiti.
Philatelic Products
Following are philatelic products available for these stamps:
- First-Day Cover (Set of 4 with Washington, DC cancellation) $3.00 (Item 458963).
- First-Day Cover (Set of 4 with Oceanside, CA cancellation) $3.00 (Item 458969).
- Cancellation Keepsake (Cover/Pane) $10.40, (Item 458993).
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark
Customers have 30 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
DISTINGUISHED MARINES STAMPS
POSTMASTER
900 BRENTWOOD RD NE
WASHINGTON DC 20066-9998
DISTINGUISHED MARINES STAMPS CAMP PENDLETON CANCELLATION
MPO
1895 AVENIDA DEL ORO
OCEANSIDE CA 92056-9998
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. All orders must be postmarked by Dec. 9, 2005.
How to Order First-Day Covers
Stamp Fulfillment Services 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. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:
INFORMATION FULFILLMENT
DEPT 6270
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014
Since 1775, the Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 142 million homes and businesses every day and is the only service provider delivering to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $69 billion, it is the world's leading provider of mailing and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume-some 206 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year-and serves seven million customers each day at its 37,000 retail locations nationwide.
Distinguished Marines Backgrounder
Gunnery Sergeant Sgt. John Basilone
Famous for his heroism during World War II, John Basilone (1916-1945) was a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient whose name and reputation are synonymous with the sacrifices and sense of duty shared by generations of enlisted Marines. Born in Buffalo, NY, and raised in Raritan, NJ, Basilone enlisted in the Army at 18, serving from 1934 until 1937 in the Philippines and earning the nickname "Manila John." Basilone enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 1940. In October 1942, while serving as a sergeant with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, he was in charge of two sections of heavy machine guns during a fierce assault by a Japanese regiment. With one of his gun crews out of action, he helped repel and defeat the Japanese forces. He moved an extra gun into position and repaired and manned another until help arrived. He later he risked his life providing ammunition to his gunners. Following the grueling battle, Basilone was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor "for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy forces, above and beyond the call of duty." Basilone returned to the home front, where he was hailed as a hero and appeared at hugely successful war-bond rallies. He asked to return to combat to "be with my boys." As a gunnery sergeant he participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima with the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division. After distinguishing himself by single-handedly destroying an enemy blockhouse and helping to guide a friendly tank out of a minefield, he was killed in action Feb. 19, 1945. For his heroism at Iwo Jima, Basilone was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. In July 1949, a destroyer, the USS Basilone, was named for him, and today a statue of him stands in Raritan, NJ, where a parade has been held in honor of the hometown hero every September since 1981. Additional Basilone information: http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Basilone_J.htm and http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/johnbasi.htm
Sgt. Major Daniel "Dan" Joseph Daly
A highly decorated Marine, Daniel J. Daly (1873-1937) was one of only two Marines to be awarded two Medals of Honor for separate acts of heroism. The 1954 Marine Corps Gazette remembers Daly as "a sort of legendary figure in his own time," and the Historical Dictionary of the United States Marine Corps states that "his record as a fighting man remains unequalled in the annals of Marine Corps history." Born in Glen Cove, NY, Daly enlisted in the Marines in 1899. In 1900 he was sent to China, where he earned his first Medal of Honor after defending the American embassy during the Boxer Rebellion, fiercely fighting off attackers while a barricade was repaired. Daly later served aboard several ships and locations such as Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Mexico. In 1915 he was sent to Haiti, where he earned his second Medal of Honor for helping to defend 38 Marines against approximately 400 bandits. Daly saw combat as a gunnery sergeant throughout France during World War I. Numerous acts of his heroism have been chronicled to him. Daly extinguished an ammunition-dump fire, single-handedly captured an enemy machine-gun emplacement with only hand grenades and a pistol, and he brought in wounded while under fire. He is best remembered for rallying his men at Belleau Wood in June 1918 during a bleak moment when his men were facing heavy German machine-gun fire. Daly ordered an attack, leaping forward and encouraging his men.
For his bravery in 1918, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and he received prominent decorations from the French government as well, including the Croix de Guerre with Palm. Daly returned to the United States shortly after World War I. He retired as a sergeant major in 1929 and died in 1937. During the 1940s the Navy named a destroyer, the USS Daly, in his honor. Daly's heroism during World War I and his years of distinguished service have made him one of the enduring legends of the Marine Corps. Additional Daly information: http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Daly_DJ.htm
Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune
John A. Lejeune (1867-1942) made history during World War I as the first Marine to command an Army division. Remembered for his professionalism and dedication, Lejeune is often referred to as "the greatest of all leathernecks," and his leadership and foresight helped prepare the Marine Corps for the amphibious assaults of World War II. Born in Pointe Coupée Parish, LA, Lejeune attended Louisiana State University and the U.S. Naval Academy. After serving in the South Pacific as a naval cadet from 1888 to 1890, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Prior to World War I, he served in Panama, the Philippines, Cuba, and Mexico. In 1909 and 1910 Lejeune attended the Army War College. In 1914 he was promoted to colonel and in 1916 became a brigadier general. During World War I, Lejeune led the 64th Army Brigade and the 4th Marine Brigade. Beginning in July 1918, he was promoted to major general and became the first Marine to command an Army division. He led the Army's 2nd Infantry Division, which included the 4th Marine Brigade, through victories at St. Mihiel and Blanc Mont and through the Meuse-Argonne offensive, which helped to end the war. For his service, Lejeune was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal from both the Army and the Navy; the French Legion of Honor; and the Croix de Guerre with Palm. From 1920 until 1929, while serving as Commandant, Lejeune was determined to keep the Marine Corps from becoming antiquated. He foresaw the need for specialized amphibious assault capabilities and prepared the Marine Corps for island invasions in the Pacific during World War II. From his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1929 until 1937, Lejeune served as superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute, where he refurbished and expanded the campus and reversed a trend of declining enrollment. Lejeune was promoted to lieutenant general in 1942. Following his death later that year, an important training base in North Carolina was renamed Camp Lejeune in his honor. Today, in keeping with an order issued by Lejeune in 1921, an annual message that summarizes the history, mission, and traditions of the Marine Corps is published each November during the Marine Corps birthday celebration. Additional Lejeune information: http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Lejeune_JA.htm and http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/lejeune.htm
Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller
Nicknamed "Chesty" for his physique as well as for his aggressiveness, Lewis B. Puller (1898-1971) had a reputation for incredible toughness. Renowned for his leadership during crucial battles in World War II and the Korean War, Puller became one of the most highly decorated Marines, rising through the ranks from private to general and receiving the Navy Cross five times. Born in West Point, Virginia, Puller attended the Virginia Military Institute in 1917 and enlisted in the Marine Corps the following year. Although a second lieutenant, he was placed on the inactive list due to cutbacks after World War I. In response, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps and distinguished himself in fighting against rebels in Haiti from 1919 until 1924, when he again became a second lieutenant. Between 1928 and 1933 he fought in Nicaragua, where he earned his first two Navy Crosses. He then served for nearly two years at the American legation in China, where his duties included command of the famous Horse Marines. Puller's early years with the Marine Corps provided him with practical combat experience that was vital to his later command successes in World War II and Korea. During World War II, Puller played a key role in the Pacific, first as a battalion commander and later as a regimental commander. In 1942, after training the 1st Marine Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Puller led his Marines through fierce combat at Guadalcanal, where the Marines' defense of the airstrip at Henderson Field earned Puller his third Navy Cross. In late 1943 and early 1944, the 7th Marines also took part in the invasion of the island of New Britain, where Puller received his fourth Navy Cross following combat at Cape Gloucester. In 1944, Puller took command of the 1st Marines and led them in bloody fighting against the Japanese to capture the island of Peleliu. During the Korean War, Puller again commanded the 1st Marines during the risky U.S. landing at Inchon in 1950. In December that year, when U.S. forces were surrounded by Chinese troops, Puller's 1st Marines tenaciously held the village of Koto-ri, allowing the 5th and 7th Marines to withdraw from the Chosin Reservoir area. For his service in Korea, Puller earned his fifth Navy Cross and a promotion to brigadier general. Puller retired as a lieutenant general in 1955 and died in 1971. Today he is remembered for his courage in combat, which inspired confidence and loyalty in those who served under him, and for the attention and respect he extended to enlisted men under his command.
Additional Puller information: http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Puller_LB.htm