Washington, D.C. – The West Virginia congressional delegation – Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va.; and Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va. – sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy encouraging him to issue a commemorative stamp honoring Brig. Gen. Charles Elwood “Chuck” Yeager of West Virginia.
On Thursday, the third anniversary of Yeager's passing, he becomes eligible to receive the honor.
“Chuck Yeager is an American hero and a legendary figure in the history of aviation, and it is our strong belief that his historic accomplishments in service to our nation merit celebration and recognition on a commemorative stamp,” the lawmakers said in part.
A native of Myra, W.Va., Yeager was raised in the small town of Hamlin, where his family moved when he was 5 years old. Three months after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and earned his pilot’s wings in 1943.
Yeager entered combat in February 1944. Following the war, Yeager was picked to enter the Air Force’s new Flight Test Division at Wright Field and in 1947, he broke the sound barrier, attaining a top speed of Mach 1.06.