Kingston, NY – U.S Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced legislation to rename the United States Postal Service located at 90 Cornell Street in Kingston to the “Staff Sergeant Robert H. Dietz Post Office Building.” Congressman Chris Gibson introduced the House version that recently passed with unanimous bipartisan support.
Staff Sergeant Robert Dietz was born in January 1921 in Kingston, NY. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served as a Staff Sergeant in Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division. He was killed in action during a mission in WW II, after advancing through enemy fire in Germany to disconnect bridge demolition charges and neutralize artillery teams defending the road into town. Staff Sergeant Dietz was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in December 1945 for his service.
“Called to serve his country during WWII, Sergeant Dietz paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the freedoms we all know and cherish,” said Senator Schumer. “He was an incredible local hero and a true American, and naming the Kingston Post Office after him is an appropriate and lasting tribute to his courage.”
“Staff Sergeant Dietz bravely answered the call to duty on behalf of our nation and put his life on the line to protect our freedoms,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Naming the Post Office after him will honor his life and would be a fitting tribute to commemorate his service to our nation.”
“Having spent most of my adult life in the Army, it is a tremendous honor for me to pay tribute in this way to Staff Sergeant Robert H. Dietz, a member of the Greatest Generation who answered the call to serve and made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our cherished way of life,” said Congressman Chris Gibson. “I am grateful to the New York Delegation for their strong support of our bill, and I look forward to working with Senators Gillibrand and Schumer to see this legislation is passed in the Senate and signed into law.”
“Staff Sergeant Deitz’ heroism is legendary in our community and his sacrifice for our nation in WWII exemplifies the highest level of bravery,” said Ulster County Executive Mike Hein. “This honor stands as a tribute to a true American Hero.”
The text of Staff Sergeant Dietz’s Medal of Honor citation from the U.S. Army reads, “By his intrepidity and valiant effort on his self-imposed mission, single-handedly opened the road for the capture of Kirchain and left with his comrades an inspiring example of gallantry in the face of formidable odds.”