Tibor Rubin

Tibor Rubin was born to Ferenc Rubin, a shoemaker, and Rosa Appel in Paszto, Hungary. At the age of 13, he and his family were transported to the Mauthausen concentration camp. He was later liberated, but his parents and two sister perished.

Tibor emmigrated to the United States in 1948 and worked first as a shoemaker and, later, as a butcher. Enlisting in the United States Army in 1950, he was assigned to I Company, Eighth Cavalry Regiment, First Cavalry Division and fought in the Korean War and became a Prisoner of War for 30 months.

Like many Jewish and African American Soldiers, Tibor was not initiatially awarded any medals for his heroism. I was not until 55 years that President George Bush presented Tibor with the Medal of Honor in 2005.

The Citation for Corporal Rubin's Medal of Honor reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Corporal Tibor Rubin distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism during the period from July 23, 1950, to April 20, 1953, while serving as a rifleman with Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in the Republic of Korea. While his unit was retreating to the Pusan Perimeter, Corporal Rubin was assigned to stay behind to keep open the vital Taegu-Pusan Road link used by his withdrawing unit. During the ensuing battle, overwhelming numbers of North Korean troops assaulted a hill defended solely by Corporal Rubin. He inflicted a staggering number of casualties on the attacking force during his personal 24-hour battle, single-handedly slowing the enemy advance and allowing the 8th Cavalry Regiment to complete its withdrawal successfully.
Following the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter, the 8th Cavalry Regiment proceeded northward and advanced into North Korea. During the advance, he helped capture several hundred North Korean soldiers. On October 30, 1950, Chinese forces attacked his unit at Unsan, North Korea, during a massive nighttime assault. That night and throughout the next day, he manned a .30 caliber machine gun at the south end of the unit's line after three previous gunners became casualties. He continued to man his machine gun until his ammunition was exhausted. His determined stand slowed the pace of the enemy advance in his sector, permitting the remnants of his unit to retreat southward. As the battle raged, Corporal Rubin was severely wounded and captured by the Chinese.
Choosing to remain in the prison camp despite offers from the Chinese to return him to his native Hungary, Corporal Rubin disregarded his own personal safety and immediately began sneaking out of the camp at night in search of food for his comrades. Breaking into enemy food storehouses and gardens, he risked certain torture or death if caught. Corporal Rubin provided not only food to the starving Soldiers, but also desperately needed medical care and moral support for the sick and wounded of the POW camp. His brave, selfless efforts were directly attributed to saving the lives of as many as forty of his fellow prisoners. Corporal Rubin's gallant actions in close contact with the enemy and unyielding courage and bravery while a prisoner of war are in the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Links

Doug Miles talks with Daniel M. Cohen author "Single-Handed-The Inspiring True Story of Tibor "Teddy" Rubin-Holocaust Survivor, Korean War Hero and Medal of Honor Recipient". Listen to YouTube Interview

• Tibor Rubin's Biography on Wikipedia
• Corporal Tibor Rubin, Korean War Veteran, Medal of Honor Recipient
• Tibor Rubin Is Dead at 86; Medal of Honor Was Delayed by Anti-Semitism NYTimes 12/09/2015