There aren’t many things that can compare to, or even surpass, the harrows of the battlefield. However, Tibor Rubin would learn early in life just how horrible humankind could be. Tibor Ted Rubin had to survive the Mauthausen concentration camp when he was 13 after being caught trying to flee to Switzerland. Losing both his parents and his sister to the atrocities of the Holocaust, Rubin would eventually be freed and immigrate to America with a desire to serve. For Tibor Rubin, the Medal of Honor award would come because of his actions as a Soldier; but unfortunately, it came after suffering the same prejudices that allowed the Nazi ideology to thrive in the first place. Rubin, who died in 2015, was the only Holocaust survivor to win the Medal of Honor. Related read: After a Storied Career, Paris Davis Is Finally Receiving His Medal of Honor

Tibor Rubin Survived the Holocaust and Became a Soldier

Born in Pásztó, Hungary, Tibor Rubin would endure life in Europe during the Holocaust. This would ultimately lead to Rubin’s imprisonment in the Mauthausen concentration camp before it was eventually liberated by the American 11th Armored Division in 1945. Rubin found himself an immigrant in the U.S. in 1948 when he moved to New York. After undertaking several ventures, including working as a butcher and a shoemaker, he became a Soldier. However, joining was a bit difficult as English was not his strongest language. Back then recruits needed to pass an English language test in order to join the Army and in 1949, he would fail. But this didn’t deter Tibor Rubin’s desire to join the American Armed Forces. With a little creative help from some fellow test takers, Rubin passed the test a year later and was off to serve. By July 1950, Private First Class Rubin was serving in South Korea with I Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, First Cavalry Division. Marring his time in the Army was a man named Arthur Peyton. Peyton didn’t shy away from his anti-Semitic views. For this reason, he was often sending Tibor Rubin into situations that could kill him. Suggested read: How Did Mary Walker Become the Only Woman To Win the Medal of Honor?

Selfless Actions Returned by Anti-Semitism

Following the events of the Korean War, several affidavits from fellow Soldiers confirmed the truth of an anti-Semitic Sergeant named Arthur Peyton. He repeatedly assigned Tibor Rubin to perilous patrols and missions. During one mission, Rubin defended a crucial retreat route for his rifle company by himself, holding a hill against continuous waves of North Korean soldiers for 24 hours, as attested by his fellow Soldiers. Recommending Tibor Rubin for the Medal of Honor four times were two Commanding Officers who noticed his exceptional bravery and sacrifice. Unfortunately, they died in action shortly after making the recommendations. However, they had instructed Rubin's Sergeant to initiate the necessary paperwork for the Medal of Honor. Witnesses confirmed this order and believe that Sergeant Peyton intentionally disregarded it. Corporal Harold Speakman, in a notarized affidavit, expressed his belief that Peyton was unwilling to assist in awarding the Medal of Honor to a Jewish Soldier.

Tibor Rubin's Gallant Actions Saved Lives

In October 1950, as a mass of Chinese forces invaded North Korea, the American troops found themselves trapped, and Rubin's regiment suffered heavy losses. Severely wounded and captured, Rubin endured thirty months in a POW camp marked by constant hunger, squalor, and disease. Many GIs lost hope and focused on self-preservation, but Rubin stood out. He risked his life nightly by sneaking out of the camp to steal food from Chinese and North Korean supply depots, all while knowing the consequences if caught. Tibor Rubin shared the stolen food evenly among his fellow GIs, cared for their health, and performed acts of kindness guided the strength of his convictions and the traditions of his faith. Saving at least 40 American Soldiers in the prison camp, Rubin's actions were pivotal in keeping them alive. Corporal Rubin's exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy and his unwavering courage as a POW exemplify the highest military traditions, bringing great credit to both himself and the United States Army. Even when given a chance, Rubin didn't repatriate to Hungary. Decades later, the Army started looking into the effects of racism and discrimination when considering nominations for awards from previous wars. Rubin was experiencing discrimination because of his Jewish faith. Finally, in 2005, the Medal of Honor Tibor Rubin always deserved for his actions would finally arrive. President George W. Bush awarded it to Rubin during a ceremony that officially righted this wrong.

The Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center and Additional Tributes

Today, many organizations are honoring the life and actions of Rubin in different ways. This includes the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California, along with the Tibor Rubin movie, Prisoners of War. Rubin was facing the worst of humanity and extreme disrespect virtually every step of the way. As the only known Holocaust survivor to earn the Medal of Honor, there has never been anyone who has served our nation quite like Tibor Rubin. Read next: What Life Was Like Inside a Japanese-American Internment Camp