WASHINGTON -- They say a prophet hath no honor in his own country. It must be true of heroes, too.

A few weeks ago, I told you the story of Sgt. David Rubitsky, who single-handedly held off 21 hours of Japanese army assaults on his position in a New Guinea swamp in December 1942. When the smoke cleared, there were between 500 and 600 Japanese troops dead -- and David Rubitsky was still standing.

Lt. Col. Herbert Smith and Capt. Joseph Stehling, Rubitsky's commanding officers concluded that his heroic actions saved his own battalion from being decimated in a surprise attack. That same month, Smith and Stehling recommended Rubitsky for the Medal of Honor.

But Rubitsky didn't get the medal.

Smith ultimately became a major general and Stehling a brigadier general. They both concluded that the reason Rubitsky did not get the award was anti-Semitism.

Smith stated, before he died in 1989, that after referring the recommendation up the chain of command he was told by a lieutenant colonel: "We don't give Jews the Congressional Medal of Honor."

Today Rubitsky is 82 years old. He spent a total of 40 years in active military service. He is currently a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Disabled American Veterans. But, believe it or not, there is still an organized opposition to conferring the award on Rubitsky.

Since I wrote this column last month, I have been inundated with letters from people questioning Rubitsky's story, pointing out that the Pentagon conducted an investigation at the behest of Congress and refused to grant the award.

Let me tell you something. I know a little about such government investigations. I trust my own research into this matter much more than I trust the self-policing action of the Pentagon.

What's clear to me is that the people on the ground at the time -- including the commanding officers responsible for review, soldier eyewitnesses with no axes to grind and even civilians in New Guinea -- believe Rubitsky performed heroic actions 59 years ago in a remote swamp during World War II.

The good news? Rubitsky is now being recognized by the government of Papua New Guinea and Queen Elizabeth in London with a medal of their own.

That award came after yet another investigation of Rubitsky's story on the ground, where it happened.

It was conducted under the auspices of Sir Nagora Y. Bogan, Papua New Guinea's ambassador to the United States, who commissioned a noted historian to interview civilians, review original documents and research other primary sources. The process took several months.

"I really believe that much of David's story just fell through the cracks," explained Bogan. "More and more, as I looked into this, I came to the conclusion that David is telling the truth."

Bogan blames the lack of recognition on a comedy of errors, in addition to prejudice.

"His story is fully consistent with the documentation we found and the primary sources we looked at," said Bogan. "I am convinced of the authenticity of his story."

In fact, Bogan was so persuaded, he invited Rubitsky and his wife to Papua New Guinea to receive the honor in an investiture ceremony. Hundreds of ordinary people turned out to meet the hero -- the man "who made the river turn red with the blood of their enemies."

Still, there's an active effort out there to undermine Rubitsky's claims -- to suggest he doesn't deserve the Medal of Honor. There is no question that at least some of those people trashing Rubitsky -- not all, mind you, but some -- spend an inordinate amount of time promoting other anti-Jewish causes. Some deny the Holocaust ever happened. Some label Israel an aggressor in the Middle East. Some see Zionist conspiracies under every bed. Others actually suggest he should be charged with war crimes for killing so many Japanese soldiers.

Meanwhile, Rubitsky -- frail and elderly -- carries on in good humor, despite being haunted by the shadows of anti-Semitism.

Realistically, Rubitsky may never see his Medal of Honor. But he will always be a man of honor -- even in his own country.

Editor's note: You can learn more about David Rubitsky's story at his website. You can also encourage him in his fight through e-mail.