Evening star., 1942-10-25
Among the Stamp Collectors
Neys of the Philatelic World Its Interests and People
By James Waldo Fawcetf,

OIc SGdT III UNe FOSG OIuce LIE.
partment service flag has turned to
gold.
1t was announced on Thursday
that Maj. Otho Larkin Rogers, U. S.
M. c., had been reported killed in
action, presumably in the Southwest
Pacific area. Notice of his death
was sent by the Navy Department to
his wife, the former Miss Iva Ber-
nice Anderson of Clinton, ILL.,, now
a resident of the Westchester Apart
ments.
Maj. Rogers was known to thou
sands of stamp collectors through
out the United States, Born at Goss,
Miss. February IA, 1899, and edu-
Gated at Seminary, Miss, he was ap-
pointed a railroad mail clerk in Sep
tember, 1919. Rising through the
grades, he became head of the Re-
demption Division of the postal sys-
tenn in 1880 and was named Phila-
telic Agent on February II, 1886.
Thereafter he travelled widely in
connection with his official duties
and developed an acquaintance with
stamp enthusiasts of all classes and
ages. Department records show that
he was in charge of first-day sales
arrangements for the scent Army
issue at West Point, the Alaska ter
rltorial at Juneau, the Emerson he
roes OF peace" adhesive at Boston
and the Riley at Greenfield, Ind;
also, the Crawford w. Long, Jeffer-
son, Ca; Eli Whitney, Savannah,
and Edward MacDowell, Peterboro,
N. H. He attended many postal
service and philatelic conventions
and took an active part in the Ma
tional Stamp Conference in 1897 and
the celebration of the Centenary of
the Postage Stamp in 1910. When
the philatelic exhibition truck was
sent on tour in New England, he ac-
companied it during several weeks
of its journeyings. He was chosen to
preside over the initial release of the
Constitution ratification stamp at
Philadelphia in 1888.
Meanwhile, Maj. Rogers enlisted in
the Marine Corps Reserve in 1882,
was commissioned second lieutenant
in 1888 and was promoted to first
lieutenant in 1885 and captain in
1898. He trained in the field during
part of each successive summer and
at various armories during the au-
tumn and winter seasons. Many
Washington boys owed to him their
preparatory instruction in arms. He
taught and drilled them with
fatherly devotion. 1t was on No
vember 7, 1941, that he responded to
the call to active duty as an officer
at Quantico. Later he was at Paris
Island, S. c., in the West Indies and
In the Netherlands East Indies.
Writing home in July, he said: Il
am second in command of 1,400 of
the fightingest marines you ever
saw" and I'VE are in there for keeps
and you can be assured we will fire
the last shot around Christmas,
l943." He believed that the superior
ity of American character, leadership
and equipment assured conclusive
victory over Japan in terms OF the
capture of Toxic. His commission
as major was dated May % last.
Four letters from him were received
two weeks ago. They contained
hint that he was on the firing line.
Mai Rogers was graduate OF
George Washington University law
school and had been admitted TO
practice in the courts of the District
of Columbia and the Supreme Court.
He was past president OF the John
Jay Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta and
a member of the Federal Bar Asso-
ciation, the Army and Navy Country
Club and the Hole-1n-One-Cluo.
Surviving relatives include his
mother, Mrs. w. E. Rogers OF Sem
lnary, Miss.
So far as available information
Indicates, Maj. Rogers was the f1rst
Post Office Department employe TO
give his life in the present war
Tributes to his memory already
have been received from a number
of his colleagues. Deputy Ihlro
Assistant Postmaster General Roy
M. North said: ITO me Otho Rogers
typified life In its fullest sense
He enjoyed his work and loved tc
be around people. He had the VI
most consideration for others, al
though always striving to go ahead
with the task in hand. He was
enthusiastic over his work In the
Marine Corps and the opportunity
thus to serve his country. We are
proud of him-proud Of his record
and his memory always shall near
much to US"
In a similar vein, Supt. OF Stamps
Robert E. Fellers declared: Il an
deeply shocked to learn of the deatf
of Mai. Rogers. AS philatelic agent
he made many friends among col
lectors, and his passing will be {
decided loss to the department
When his country called him to thu
colors, he was eager to go. In
recent letter he wrote: My mair
prayer is that God will give me th'
leadership and strength to leae
those under my command into man!
successful battles for the land
love-"
1T, Col. Harold F. Ambrose, formeI
chief of the Post Office Information
Bureau, paid homage to Maj. Roger
in the words: He was man o
sterling character, unusual ablllt.
and outstanding courage. His sud
den death under fire brought to al
end the career of man of a typ
which no organization, no natiol
can afford to lose. His passing
is a distinct loss to the Post Of1ic'
Department, to stamp collectors
to the community and to the coun
try at large"
Alvin w. Hall, director OF th
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
told The Star: Through his ef
ficient and courteous management
of philatelic matters for the Pos
ONCE Department, Maj. Roger
made friends in almost every Stat
In the Union. His death is grea
shock to me, for I knew him wei
and valued him highly as gentle
man and a soldier. My son, nov
at sea with the fleet, who serve'
In the Marine Reserve Corps unde