Nicholas Oresko was born on January 18th, 1917, in Bayonne, N.J. He joined the U.S. Army in the spring of 1942, during the height of WWII. After being deployed to France, he spent several months in relative safety, engaging in only small skirmishes. In December of 1944, his unit was sent to Germany.

Oresko received the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor, for his actions on January 23rd, 1945, during a battle near Tettington, Germany. He captured two enemy bunkers by himself, facing heavy fire and suffering a machine-gun wound to his hip.

The U.S. Army Center of Military History has a summary of Oresko’s actions in his Medal of Honor citation:

“Realizing that a machinegun in a nearby bunker must be eliminated, [Oresko] swiftly worked ahead alone, braving bullets which struck about him, until close enough to throw a grenade into the German position. He rushed the bunker and, with pointblank rifle fire, killed all the hostile occupants who survived the grenade blast. Another machinegun opened up on him, knocking him down and seriously wounding him in the hip. Refusing to withdraw from the battle…he struck out alone in advance of his men to a second bunker. With a grenade, he crippled the dug-in machinegun defending this position and then wiped out the troops manning it with his rifle, completing his second self-imposed, 1-man attack. Although weak from loss of blood, he refused to be evacuated until assured the mission was successfully accomplished.”

Oresko spoke about his experience during his 95th birthday celebration. According to the Bergen Record, each guest was asked to bring another, younger guest to hear his story. At the event, Oresko recounted that dangerous day:

“The machine gunner who shot me thought I was dead. I was able to move around, sneak around, so they didn’t see me. They saw me go down. They thought they’d killed me, but they didn’t. I slipped around and somehow got around, and they were in a bunch.”

Nicholas Oresko was honored as a hero in his community. His hometown of Bayonne, N.J., renamed a public school in his honor. During his years at an assisted-living facility in Cresskill, N.J., he often received visitors, including students from the school. But those well-wishers were dwarfed by the outpouring of support Oresko received after being admitted to Englewood Hospital with a broken leg.

Because of his age, surgery looked risky. While in the hospital, Oresko requested visits from any current or former service members. His wish was granted once the Internet got wind of it.

Redditor jdonnel posted a call on reddit. jdonnel, himself serving in Afghanistan, flew the American flag in Oresko’s honor and sent the flag to the hospital. Other redditor service members called or showed up in person.

Local police officers and firefighters showed up in spades. At one point, six firetrucks filled with firefighters who were also military veterans convened to pay their respects and talk with Oresko. Members of every military branch showed up, and Oresko was surrounded by veterans and service members at the time of his death.

His funeral drew hundreds of mourners from every age and background, from students at Nicholas Oresko School to the superintendent of West Point, from current service members to Oresko’s fellow Medal of Honor recipients from WWII.

Today, a little more than a month after his death, Oresko will be immortalized in the USPS Medal of Honor Prestige Folio. Oresko was involved in the project, approved use of his photo, and lived to see the stamps printed.