Posted on 09/17/2005 2:14:59 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES - Tibor Rubin kept his promise to join the U.S. Army after American troops freed him from the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria during World War II.
A Hungarian Jew, Rubin immigrated to New York after the war, joined the Army and fought as an infantryman in the Korean War. In 1951, Chinese troops captured Cpl. Rubin and other U.S. soldiers and he became a prisoner of war for 2 1/2 years.
More than five decades later, after a relentless campaign by grateful comrades and Jewish war veterans, President Bush on Sept. 23 will give Rubin the Medal of Honor.
"I was only staying alive to get that medal and now I'm going to enjoy it," said the 76-year-old Rubin, who now lives in Garden Grove.
He was nominated four times for the medal, the nation's highest recognition for bravery in battle. But some believe the paperwork was never submitted because a member of his chain of command discriminated against him for being Jewish and born in Hungary.
When he was at the Chinese prisoners' camp known as "Death Valley," Rubin said he would pray in Hebrew for the U.S. soldiers — about 40 each day — who died in the freezing weather. He also took care of soldiers suffering from dysentery or pneumonia.
Rubin, who goes by the name Ted, called concentration camp good "basic training" for being a POW and applied lifesaving lessons he learned there. For example, Rubin said he would retrieve maggots from the prisoners' latrine and apply them to the infected wounds of his comrades to remove gangrene.
Fellow POW Sgt. Leo Cormier said Rubin gave a lot of GIs the courage to live.
"I once saw him spend the whole night picking lice off a guy who didn't have the strength to lift his head," Cormier told the Army. "What man would do that? ... But Ted did things for his fellow men that made him a hero in my book."
As a POW, Rubin turned down repeated offers from the Chinese to be returned to his native Hungary.
"I told them I couldn't go back because I was in the U.S. Army and I wouldn't leave my American brothers because they needed me here," Rubin said.
Rubin wouldn't say anything negative about the Army and his long wait for the Medal of Honor. But in affidavits filed in support of Rubin's nomination, fellow soldiers said their sergeant was allegedly a vicious anti-Semite who gave Rubin dangerous assignments in hopes of getting him killed.
In 1988, the Jewish War Veterans of the United States urged Congress to recognize Rubin's efforts. And U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler (news, bio, voting record) of Florida introduced a bill in 2001 to force the Pentagon to review the records of Jewish veterans who may have been denied the Medal of Honor because they were Jews.
About 150 records remain under review, said Bob Zweiman, past national commander of the Jewish War Veterans.
Storys that just make you say DAMM...
Mr. Rubin, I'll proudly salute you if we ever meet.
Rubin, your place in Heaven is assured.
The President must salute them, its required for him to salute any MOH recipient.
A man worthy of the Medal of Honor wouldn't. It's just the way things are.
Not to be too critical, but what is the basis for the Medal of Honor? I saw nothing in the article, other than the fact that he prayed. I wish the author of the article had pointed this out.
I'm not sure what the purpose of your post is. The President is not "required" to salute anyone. Salutes are rendered out of custom, respect, and tradition.
By tradition, a CMOH recipient would be saluted by all, irresprective of any difference in rank.
Yes, you are right. I never heard of a regulation that "required" a salute be given to a holder of the Medal of Honor. Rather, it was a courtesy to render them a salute. That being said, while I have never met a Medal of Honor winner, if I did, I would give the gentleman a salute.
Did you miss the part where he picked maggots out of the men's latrine to prevent gangrene from forming in his fellow soldiers?
I don't know the basis for a Medal of Honor, but Mr. Rubin acted more than honorably. He made good on his promise to join the US Army, he refused repatriation to Hungary, and used his concentration camp knowledge to help keep others alive.
Chill out Bob.
I had the same thoughts as you...but then I felt...what the hell..he's 76...give the guy the damn medal anyway.
Perhaps worthy of some thought: Here are the requirements;
The Medal of Honor is the highest medal awarded by the United States. It has only been awarded 3,428 times in the nation's history. Below is an excerpt of the Army regulation that describes the eligibility criteria for award of the Medal of Honor...
a. The Medal of Honor [Army], section 3741, title 10, United States Code (10 USC 3741), was established by Joint Resolution of Congress, 12 July 1862 (amended by acts 9 July 1918 and 25 July 1963).
b. The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member of the Army, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the service will be exacted and each recommendation for the award of this decoration will be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.
From chapter 3-6, Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) dated 25 February 1995
Excellent. Give him the medal.
Wow, what a story! I visited the Mauthausen memorial some years ago. That place was truly hell on earth. Then this man, who went through Mauthausen, survived a Chinese Communist prison camp!
Hey, Hollywood, here's a movie just begging to be made!
I don't begrudge it to anyone but I'm not sure he meets the requirement considering others. In fact here is a link to the the first Medal of Honor given to an Army POW for actions taken during captivity in Southeast Asia. (I have no idea how many were given to WWII or Korea POW's)
Of course all duty is honorable and admirable. I'm glad I don't have to make the decisions.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/07/20020708-3.html
During numerous engagements, Rubin’s actions to engage the enemy and to tend the wounded, at careless disregard for his own safety, resulted in the heroic defense of his unit. In one such mission, Rubin single-handedly defended a hill for 24 hours thereby allowing his company to withdraw.While a POW he regularly snuck out and stole food from the gaurds. He also used other techniques he learned in the KZ.
BTW, he was offered, but refused repatriation to Hungary.
Hope you hang around a while longer to enjoy it and inspire other Americans by your story!
I'm sure there are thousands who sacrificed more and are more deserving than this gentleman, but I do not see any disrespect to them by him being awarded the MOH in his final days.
If you want to see why he was awarded the Medal of Honor
go to http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/rubin/citation/printable.htm
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