A Soldier's Story: Corporal Tibor Rubin - Korean War

 



Corporal Tibor Rubin was born on June 18, 1929, in Paszto, Hungary. In March 1944, when Nazi forces began their occupation of Hungary, his parents unsuccessfully tried to send him to Switzerland to avoid imprisonment. However, he was captured and sent to the Mauthausen Concentration camp. Corporal Tibor Rubin was liberated by American forces on May 5, 1945. Unfortunately, his father, stepmother, and youngest sister all died in Nazi camps.

He emigrated to the Los Angeles area in May 1948 and worked as a butcher until February 1950, when he entered the US Army. Corporal Tibor Rubin trained as a rifleman and deployed to Korea with the 1st Cavalry Division.

On October 30, 1950, with his unit overwhelmed, Corporal Rubin singlehandedly defended the Raegu-Pusan road for 24 hours so that his unit could withdraw. Eventually, on November 2, 1950, Corporal Rubin was severely injured and captured by the Chinese. He would spend the next 30 months as a prisoner of war. 

During his imprisonment, Corporal Rubin routinely snuck into food stores and medical supplies, supplementing the meager prison rations and providing medical care for injured soldiers. His efforts saved the lives of more than 40 prisoners.

He was liberated in April 1953 and was released from the US Army in July.

Corporal Rubin returned to Los Angeles and partnered with his brother to open a liquor store. He also traveled extensively in Europe, Scandinavia, and Mexico. 

He was finally awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2005. Despite his heroism during the Korean War and the number of nominations by fellow soldiers, the Jewish War Veteran of the USA lobbied for more than 25 years to overcome his unit's leadership's antisemitism.

Corporal Tibor Rubin died on December 5, 2015, and rests at Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.


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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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Location: Pásztó, Hungary

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