The Medal of Honor. Photo by Gerald Blankenship

Above: The Medal of Honor. Photo by Gerald Blankenship

The Medal of Honor stamp was issued in 1983.

Above: The Medal of
Honor stamp was issued
in 1983.

First Sergeant David H. McNerney in Vietnam 1966.

Above: First Sergeant David H. McNerney in Vietnam 1966.
Photo by Ken Mayberry.

The Navy with Marines and Coast Guard, the Army, and the Air Force would eventually each have their own Medal of Honor. In 1896 legislation established a unique suspension ribbon for the Medal of Honor, in 1897 names of potential recipients needed to be submitted by a witness with sworn testimony to the heroic deed, and in 1904 a ring of laurel leaves was added around the Army’s inverted star with a new blue ribbon and 13 stars. 1906 revisions specified that there be an impressive ceremony in Washington, D.C., whenever it is possible.

President Lyndon B. Johnson congratulates First Sergeant David H. McNerney at the White House award ceremony, September 19, 1968.
White House photo.

Above: President Lyndon
B. Johnson congratulates
First Sergeant David
H. McNerney at the White
House award ceremony,
September 19, 1968.
White House photo.

The Medal of Honor is the highest United States Military award, recognizing uncommon valor. The diversity among the more than 3,400 Medal of Honor recipients is hardly surprising, but each chose, at one pivotal moment in combat, to commit his life beyond the call of duty.

First Sergeant David H. McNerney in 1968 and in 2003.
Photos by (left) U.S. Army and (right) Robert E. Bush.

Above: First Sergeant David H. McNerney in 1968 and in 2003.
Photos by (left) U.S. Army and (right) Robert E. Bush.

This Medal of Honor recognizes First Sergeant David H. McNerney, one of 2,800,000 uniformed members of the United States Military who served in Vietnam and one of only 246 men who also received this recognition.

Boy Scout Troop 505, Houston, Texas 1945. David H. McNerney, top row, far right.
Family photo.

Above: Boy Scout Troop
505, Houston, Texas 1945.
David H. McNerney, top row,
far right. Family photo.

The Korean War Memorial stamp was issued in 2003.

Above: The Korean War
Memorial stamp was
issued in 2003.

When his unit received orders for Vietnam, he volunteered to accompany them. “After all those months they belonged to me—I felt responsible for them.” On March 22, 1967, near Polei Doc, near the Cambodian border, First Sergeant David H. McNerney of Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division, was “just doing my job.” That’s how he would describe the battle that took place that day, but on this day his job meant surviving an ambush that involved extremely close in combat. All officers were killed save one who was badly wounded. Although significantly outnumbered and seriously wounded from a grenade that landed next to him, McNerney assumed command. He counted 22 of his soldiers dead and was determined to do his part to keep the rest of his men alive. McNerney succeeded, through a series of daring actions that evacuated his 43 wounded and preserved his remaining 43 soldiers. The events that occurred that day resulted in First Sergeant McNerney being summoned to the White House where his courageously bold actions of heroism and leadership were honored in a formal ceremony. President Lyndon B. Johnson expressed his appreciation to a fellow Texan and his great gratitude for First Sergeant McNerney’s answer to the challenge of the battle in the “Valley of Tears” with a willingness and ability to endure hardship in service to his country.

The Vietnam War stamp was issued in 1999. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stamp was issued in 2000.

Above: The Vietnam War stamp was issued in 1999. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stamp was issued in 2000.

After volunteering and serving a fourth tour of duty in Vietnam, First Sergeant McNerney retired with twenty years of military service. He then joined the United States Customs Service, where he spent 25 distinguished years of service before retiring in 1995. After his second retirement he gave much of his time to his community and veterans organizations that also included speaking with school children about military service and service to the country. He continued his involvement with the JROTC and the Crosby, Texas, American Legion Post 658.

David H. McNerney visited the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, DC, in 2010, to view rare 1933 Balbo covers and other material from the vault. Photo by May Day Taylor.

Above: David H. McNerney visited the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, DC, in 2010, to view rare 1933 Balbo covers and other material from the vault.
Photo by May Day Taylor.

During his life, David McNerney was an avid stamp collector as well as a sailor and soldier, a First Sergeant, a Medal of Honor recipient, husband, uncle to 16 nieces and nephews, and a community volunteer. His interest in earning his Boy Scout Stamp Merit Badge had grown from a hobby to a passion. His first collection, primarily of American stamps, was sold to help purchase his first home. He resumed stamp collecting as a world-wide collector. While he went where the military sent him, those experiences were enlarged through his stamp collection. In many ways he felt he accompanied the service men and women in every battle in the American experience through his extensive stamp collection and his collateral reading. McNerney was a life-long learner through his stamps and said he liked all the stamps he ever met.

“Steadfast and Loyal”

The Medal of Honor will be displayed in the new William H. Gross Gallery (opening late 2013) at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum with First Sergeant David H. McNerney’s photo and a selection of his stamps from Korea and Vietnam.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stamp was issued in 1984. The Vietnam Veterans stamp was issued in 1979.

Above: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stamp was issued in 1984. The Vietnam Veterans stamp was issued in 1979.

The Vietnam stamp, issued in 1955, is from David McNerney's collection.

Above: The Vietnam stamp, issued in 1955, is from David McNerney's collection.

Korean souvenir sheet, issued in 1951, is from David McNerney's collection.

Above: Korean souvenir sheet, issued in 1951, is from David McNerney's collection.

To Learn More:

The Medal of Honor Citation — United States Army
www.history.army.mil/moh.html

Portraits of Valor: Beyond the Call of Duty, 2008
Author, Peter Collier

Documentary film 2010, Honor in the Valley of Tears,
Director: Eric S. Dow
Producer: John A. Ponsoll
www.youtu.be/iwEzOWo8w4E

Congressional Medal of Honor Society
www.cmohs.org

Preserving the History of Recipients of the Medal of Honor
www.HomeofHeroes.com

Medal of Honor Host City Program
www.moh-hostcityprogram.com

Stamps related to the Medal of Honor:
Also look for Buffalo Bill Cody, Teddy Roosevelt,
Douglas MacArthur, Eddie Rickenbacker, John Basilone,
Audie Murphy, Daniel J. Daly, John McCloy, Hispanic Americans
and Dr. Mary Walker all depicted on U.S. stamps.

# # #

Medal of Honor Recipients Featured on Recent Stamps

Medal of Honor recipient Daniel J. Daly postage stamp

Above: Medal of Honor recipient Daniel J. Daly postage stamp

Medal of Honor recipient John McCloy postage stamp

Above: Medal of Honor recipient John McCloy postage stamp

Compiled by May Day Taylor
September 2012