Harry Kizirian

USMC

Harry Kizirian
Nickname(s)Killer or Beast
Born(1925-07-13)July 13, 1925
Providence, Rhode Island
DiedSeptember 13, 2002(2002-09-13) (aged 77)
Providence, Rhode Island
Buried
Swan Point Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of serviceFebruary 23, 1944 – February 11, 1946
RankCorporal
Service number942989
Battles / warsWorld War II:
Awards
Spouse(s)Hazel Serabian
Other workPostmaster

Harry Kizirian (Armenian: Հէրի Գիզիրեան; 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 considered one of the most decorated marines of World War II.[1][2][3] He is also the most decorated serviceman from Rhode Island.[4][5][6][7][8] 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.[9][10] 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.[5][11]

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.[11][7][12][13] The Harry Kizirian Post Office became the first U.S. federal building named after an Armenian American.[7] Inducted in the Rhode Island Hall of Fame in 1978, Kizirian is regarded as a "national treasure" and has been honored by numerous organizations.[11][14]

  1. ^ Demirjian 1996, p. 133.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Journal1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Tashjian, James H. (July 1952). The Armenian American in World War II. Harenik Assoc. p. 112. Harry Kizirian is one of the only three Rhode Islanders to receive the Rhode Island Cross. He is said to be one of the most decorated Marine Corps men in World War II, and is believed to be the most decorated serviceman in Rhode Island.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Barmann was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Mooradian, Moorad (November 30, 1991). "Military: Arms and the Man". Armenian International Magazine. 2 (10). Glendale, CA. ISSN 1050-3471.
  6. ^ Kerr, Bob (26 March 1995). "Okinawa - then and now 50 years that might not have been Battle veteran Harry Kizirian says he's lucky to be alive, wonders what lessons learned". Providence Journal. p. C-01. The Navy Cross, along with a bronze star, a couple of Purple Hearts and unit citations helped make him Rhode Island's most-decorated Marine.
  7. ^ a b c Karentz 2004, p. 273.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference gelenian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Belkin, Douglas (September 16, 2002). "Harry Kizirian, WWII Hero, Providence Postmaster; At 77". The Boston Globe.
  10. ^ "Life In Legacy – Week of September 21, 2002". Life in Legacy.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ a b c "Much-beloved Rhode Islander regarded as 'national treasure' – Harry Kizirian, postmaster, war hero, dies". The Providence Journal. September 15, 2002. p. C-01. Kizirian, a former Marine widely acclaimed as the most decorated soldier from Rhode Island in World War II, served on numerous boards of directors, was honored by dozens of local organizations and was a member of the Rhode Island Hall of Fame. Regarded as a "national treasure," Kizirian received an honorary doctor of public service degree from Rhode Island College in 1992.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference JackReed was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Congressional Record-House" (PDF). United States Government Printing Office. Washington D.C.: United States Congressional Records. October 23, 1995. Harry Kizirian is a household name in Rhode Island because of his lifelong career in the Postal Service but, even more so, because of his involvement with and commitment to his community.
  14. ^ "Harry Kizirian". Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12.