Lawmakers call for a Chuck Yeager Commemorative Stamp

Dec. 9—West Virginians in the Congress are urging the United States Postal Service to issue a stamp honoring a West Virginian hero who served his country during World War II and later became the first pilot to fly faster than the speed of sound.

U.S. Senators Joe Manchin, D-WV and Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV as well as U.S Representatives Carol Miller, R-WV, Alex Mooney, R-WV and Doug LaMalfa, R-CA, sent a letter this week to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy asking the Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp honoring West Virginian and Brigadier General Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager.

Yeager passed away on Dec. 7, 2020. On Thursday, the third anniversary of his passing, he became eligible to be honored with a commemorative stamp.

"Chuck Yeager is an American hero and a legendary figure in the history of aviation, and it is our strong belief that his historic accomplishments in service to our nation merit celebration and recognition on a commemorative stamp," the lawmakers said in their letter. "Over the course of his distinguished career, Chuck fought for his country in two wars, accumulated a total of 10,131.6 flight hours in 361 different types and models of military aircraft, and was the first commander of the Aerospace Research Pilot School, where he mentored a new generation of American aviators."

A native of Myra, WV, Yeager was raised in the town of Hamlin where his family moved when he was 5 years old. Three months after graduating high school, Yeager enlisted in the Army Air Corps and earned his pilot's wings in 1943. He was assigned to the European Theater of Operations and entered combat in February 1944.

The Allied forces benefitted tremendously from his persistence and superb pilot skills, the lawmakers said in their letter.

Yeager, who became a fighter pilot flying P-51 Mustangs, earned the title "ace in a day" by achieving five aerial victories on Oct. 12, 1944. He added another four victories to his tally on Nov. 27, 1944 and completed his final flight on Jan. 15, 1945, having flown 64 combat missions and totaling 12.5 aerial victories.

Following the war, Yeager was selected for the Air Force's new Flight Test Division at Wright Field in Ohio. This choice led to him making aviation history.

Yeager proved his worth as a test pilot when on Oct. 14, 1947, he climbed into the rocket-powered Bell X-1 — which he named "Glamorous Glennis" after his wife — and did what was then thought impossible by breaking the sound barrier, reaching a top speed of Mach 1.06. Yeager served his country for another 28 years after his historic flight until he retired from active duty in 1975.

"He left behind a legacy of service not just to his country but to all of humanity. From his humble beginnings in the hollers of Appalachia to the skies above war-torn Europe to accomplishing what no human being had done before in an aircraft, Chuck was the embodiment of the very best of America: service to his country and fellow citizens, the willingness to sacrifice in the defense of freedom, and the spirit to push beyond the boundaries what is possible to go where no one had gone before," the lawmakers continued in their letter.

Yeager's career and historic accomplishments were commemorated with many awards, and he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973. Congress awarded him a Congressional Silver Medal in December 1975, which President Gerald Ford presented to him in a ceremony at the White House. Yeager was also inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, the International Space Hall of Fame and the Aerospace Walk of Honor.

"Today, on the third anniversary of his passing, Chuck becomes eligible to be honored on a commemorative stamp issued by the United States Postal Service," the lawmakers said in their letter Thursday. "We encourage you to issue a new stamp celebrating Chuck's life at the earliest possible date, so that his legacy may be remembered and his contributions to our nation and to humanity may be celebrated."

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com