The Military Postal History Society Bulletin Award
(Award for Best Article in the MPHS Bulletin)
This award, established in 1999, is presented to the author
of the best article that appeared in the preceding calendar year's
issue of the Military Postal History Society Bulletin.
Criteria
Originality - Must be an original work by the author and
not a reprint, rewrite, or translation of an article from
another domestic or foreign source.
Relativity - Must relate to military postal history and not merely be an article on some aspect of military history by itself.
Significance - Must contribute in a positive manner to
the military postal history field. Should contain information that
either adds to or in some manner increases our knowledge in
the subject of the article. May be of a type that a reader
could use as a reference.
Accuracy - In the judgment of the committee, the
content must be accurate.
Content/Style - The article should read well, be grammatically correct, and be clear in intent and meaning to the reader.
References/Sources - Where applicable, should list
the references and sources used by the author. May not be applicable
in all cases.
The award committee is appointed by the MPHS President. The
award, a suitable plaque, is announced at the convention in the
calendar year following the publication of the article.
2006 Best Article Award
Louis Fiset received the society's Best Article Award for his
contribution in the Summer 2005 issue of the Military Postal History
Society Bulletin. Fiset's article, "Diplomatic Exchange Voyages of
World War II" describes the service provided by the ships
S.S. Drottningholm and M.S. Gripsholm in exchanging groups of
foreign nationals who suddenly found themselves to be "enemy aliens"
as a result of the declarations of war in WW II.
These vessels returned U.S. nationals living abroad in
exchange for diplomats and other citizens of Axis countries who were
in formerly friendly countries. Author Fiset details the process
of exchanges and lists the dates of the vessel sailings and
their ports of departure and arrival. Examples of mail associated
with these exchanges help tell the story.
2005 Best Article Award
Kinsley, who is the society's Secretary, published three
articles in the 2004 issues of the society's Bulletin.
"Operation Overlord" in the spring issue retold the story of
U.S. troops landing at Normandy in World War II including the
diversionary tactics in southwest England. Photos of the troop
landings illustrate the article.
In the summer issue the author describes a censored
cover as evidence of the important mission of Belgian Congo
troops in supporting the British in Sudan to defeat the
Italian army in Ethiopia. It was sent to the Red Cross in
Geneva and bears military and civil censorship markings.
Kinsley's third article appeared in the fall issue under the
title of "Custer's Last Stand." He shows two covers from
Fort Custer, Montana. The fort was built the year following
the famous battle.