Harry Kizirian Harry Kizirian ( ) ( July 13 , 1925 – September 13 , 2002 ) was an Armenian American member of the United States Marine Corps who served during World War II . Kizirian ' s service lasted from February 1944 to February 1946 , during which he spent seventeen months overseas . Kizirian took part in the Battle of Okinawa , where he landed during the first assault wave while heading a Marine fire team . Having been awarded the Navy Cross , the Rhode Island Cross , the Bronze Star with Combat " V " , and the Purple Heart twice , Kizirian is one of the most decorated marines of World War II . He is also the most decorated serviceman from Rhode Island . In 1961 he was appointed by John F . Kennedy as the postmaster of Providence , becoming ( at age 36 ) one of the youngest postmasters in the United States . During his postmastership , Kizirian was instrumental in establishing the first automated post office in the country , which made the Providence post office an operational model for the United States and worldwide . Kizirian is widely known in the state of Rhode Island , where a post office , a plaza , and an elementary school are named in his honor . The Harry Kizirian Post Office became the first United States federal building named after an Armenian American . Inducted in the Rhode Island Hall of Fame in 1978 , Kizirian is regarded as a " national treasure " and has been honored by numerous organizations . Life . Kizirian , a first generation Armenian American , was born in his home on July 13 , 1925 at 134 Chad Brown St . Providence , Rhode Island . He was the only son of Toros and Hripsime Kizirian , who were born in Goydun ( Govdun ) , near Sivas , in the Ottoman Empire . Kizirian ' s mother came to the United States in the 1920s after losing her first husband and seven children during the Armenian Genocide . His father was employed by the Rhode Island Tool Company and his mother was a housewife . Kizirian , who was active in sports , was offered a scholarship to LaSalle Academy . He declined the offer so that he could attend the local Mt . Pleasant High School and be closer to his friends . Kizirian became a top athlete in his class ; he played on the football team for three years and became captain in his senior year . When Kizirian was 15 years old , his father died . Harry became responsible for the care of himself and his mother . To take care of the family ' s immediate needs , Kizirian worked at a meat packing plant unloading sides of beef from freight cars . He then got a temporary position at the Providence post office for two years while finishing high school . On February 23 , 1944 — the day after his graduation from high school — Kizirian enlisted in the United States Marine Corps . He was sent overseas as a member of the 6th Marine Division on October 6 , 1944 . After spending seventeen months overseas , Kizirian returned to Providence , where he married Hazel Serabian of Massena , New York . For the first four years after his return , Kizirian underwent treatment for wounds he suffered during battle . In spite of undergoing several major surgeries , Kizirian was left with permanent disabilities . After recovering from a life - threatening illness in which surgeons removed 95 percent of his stomach , Kizirian entered a career in the Postal Service . He first returned to the Providence post office as a substitute clerk . In 1954 , he was appointed foreman , the first of several promotions he received throughout his life . In 1961 , he was made Postmaster of Providence by President John F . Kennedy . Congress unanimously confirmed the appointment . At age 36 , Kizirian was one of the youngest postmasters in the country . During his tenure , Kizirian was instrumental in establishing the first automated post office . The Providence post office would be an exemplary model for post offices around the world . Kizirian later remarked , " There is no nation on this earth that didn ' t send representatives to see the new post office . " In 1986 , Kizirian was removed from his position amid opposition from Senators John Chafee and Claiborne Pell . Despite protests from the employees who wore pins that said " We Love Harry " , Kizirian ' s position was eliminated and he subsequently retired . Kiziran and his wife had five children : Joanne , Thomas , Janice , Shakay , and Richard . Kizirian died on September 13 , 2002 at age 77 . His funeral procession was held at the Saint Vartanants Armenian Apostolic Church in Providence and he is buried at the Swan Point Cemetery . World War II . Battle of Okinawa . Having joined the Marine Corps in February 23 , 1944 , Kizirian was sent to the Pacific War as part of E Company , 22nd Marines , part of the 6th Marine Division . On April 1 , 1945 , during the Battle of Okinawa , Kizirian took part in the first assault wave as the head of a Marine fire team . His unit ' s charge against enemy positions that had pinned down an American platoon ultimately saved the trapped unit . On May 11 , E Company moved east toward Shuri Ridge . They seized the air strip in an attack on May 14 , then stopped for a short rest . During a skirmish , Kizirian received many injuries , which included being hit by shell fragments in his shoulders and arms . Nevertheless , he managed to continue fighting . For his actions , he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat " V " and received a Purple Heart . His citation read : After a month to recover from his wounds , Kizirian rejoined his unit , which was assigned to Sugar Loaf Hill . The Marines battled over one ridge after another toward NaHa , the capital city . On three separate occasions Kizirian was tossed in the air by Japanese artillery and mortar fire while he provided covering fire for other members of his unit , who were retreating down a slope . Kizirian ' s company moved to a burial ground where Japanese soldiers were hiding in holes dug in the nearby hillsides . During the operation , someone yelled , " Two over your head ! " Kizirian responded by killing both of the enemy combatants with his carbine . Kizirian would later recall , " I must have shot four clips into those guys , I got them before they got me . " Moments later , an enemy rushed towards Kizirian with a sword . Kizirian managed to kill the enemy with a pistol and took the sword . The battalion commander was killed , and soon afterwards , orders arrived to seek and destroy any enemy combatants around NaHa . On June 11 , 1945 , Kizirian was assigned the special task of patrolling to locate elements of an enemy reserve platoon . His unit moved to attack Japanese soldiers entrenched along a ridge line . Through the smoke and dust , he noticed six stretcher bearers and a wounded Marine that were under heavy machine gun fire . Disregarding his own safety , Kizirian placed himself in the line of fire and single - handedly attacked the enemy emplacement . The Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces that confronted Kizirian shot him in the legs and abdomen . Unable to walk , he still managed to make his way forward using his elbows to a position where he was able to shoot and kill all 12 soldiers manning the machine gun . Due to these actions , Kizirian was awarded the Navy Cross , the second highest medal in the United States military . The citation provides details about the event : After making a recovery , Kizirian and the Marine units took the capital city of NaHa and were preparing for another assault . Kizirian ' s unit had fought its way to the crest of a hill and dug in . Kizirian was standing watch at the company command post inside an Okinawa burial ground . When replacements joined the company , many Japanese soldiers harassed the lines by infiltrating the positions of the more inexperienced soldiers . Kizirian ordered that flares should be fired at irregular intervals to would illuminate the scene and distract the enemy . The idea proved successful and the newly arrived Marines soon had the situation under control . During a break in fighting at Okinawa , Kizirian was photographed by a member of the press . The picture that later appeared on the cover of the June 24 , 1945 issue of " The New York Times Sunday Magazine " . The photograph became the face of the battle for thousands of Americans . After serving seventeen months overseas , Kizirian received discharge from the Marine Corps on February 11 , 1946 . Military decorations . Kizirian ' s military decorations include : Awards and recognition . In 1947 , Kizirian was awarded the Rhode Island Cross by Rhode Island Governor John Pastore . Kizirian became one of three recipients of this medal , the highest award in the state of Rhode Island . In 1987 , the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration ( ASPA ) presented him with its John O . Stitely Distinguished Public Service Award . Upon his retirement , a special stamp cancellation showing the flag - raising on Battle of Iwo Jima was issued in his honor . In October 1994 , Kizirian was honored by his own Atwood - Bucci Detachment of the U . S . Marine Corps League . The tribute was attended by Providence Mayor Vincent Cianci , Senator John Pastore , and Rhode Island governor Bruce Sundlun with letters read from Postmaster General Marvin Runyon . On February 2 , 1996 , President Bill Clinton signed House Resolution 1606 which renamed the post office located at 24 Corliss Street , Providence , Rhode Island , as the Harry Kizirian Post Office Building . It was the first United States federal building named after an Armenian American . The opening ceremony was attended by Mayor Vincent Cianci , House of Representative Jack Reed , Senator John Chafee and Governor of Rhode Island Lincoln Carter Almond . The area outside the post office was named Harry Kizirian Plaza in his honor . Additionally , on May 26 , 2001 , the Providence City Council passed a resolution that renamed Smith Hill ' s Camden Avenue School after Kizirian . Kizirian received the Seven Seals Award from the Rhode Island committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve in recognition of his three - year term as state chairman . Rhode Island College bestowed its alumni service award on him in 1986 , and he received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Roger Williams College in 1983 . In May 2002 , he received an honorary doctor of public service degree from Rhode Island College . The Ocean State Charities private nonprofit foundation that serves to assist other nonprofit and social service agencies throughout the state of Rhode Island has named an award after Kizirian . Community service . Kizirian served as a member of the board of directors of Butler Hospital , the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce , the Providence YMCA , Rhode Island Blue Cross , the Rhode Island Heart Association , and the Rhode Island Lung Association . He was a member of the community advisory board at Rhode Island College , the Providence Heritage Commission , and the Commission on Medal of Honor Recipients from Rhode Island , and was a director of the Smith Hill Center . He served as commander of the American Legion and as detachment commander and state commandant of the Marine Corps League . He was a member of Disabled American Veterans , Veterans of Foreign Wars , Past Department Commanders , the National Association of Postmasters of the United States , the Federal Executive Council ( he was its first chairman ) , Butler Hospital ' s capital development committee , and the 1976 Easter Seal Telethon Committee of Meeting Street School . He served on the Rhode Island Bicentennial Commission and was general chairman of its Armenian Heritage subcommittee and a member of the Veterans Affairs subcommittee . He was chairman of the federal department of the United Fund from 1962 to 1981 , and was a former president of Local 105 , National Association of Postal Supervisors , and Branch 35 , National Association of Postmasters of the United States , and received numerous postal awards . He was chairman of the March of Dimes in 1962 and 1963 , the February Heart Month of the Rhode Island Heart Association in 1974 , the Pilot Program for the United Way of Southeastern New England 1977 – 1978 , the Rhode Island Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve , 1982 – 1986 , and The Postman ' s March from 1974 through 1982 . Kizirian served as a member of the Blue Cross corporation from 1972 to 1975 , and was a trustee of the Ocean State Charities Trust from 1981 to 1986 . Kizirian , who was active in the Armenian community , was a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Govdoon Youth of America . He was also a member of the local Saint Vartanants Armenian Apostolic Church . In retirement , he worked part - time as a consultant to a messenger service in Providence and continued heading dinner committees . He was also active with Big Brothers , the Veterans Home in Bristol , and the Heart Association . Quotations . When asked what went through his mind when he was blown into the air by enemy bombardment , Kizirian responded : His advice to youth was :