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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Second Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Gerry Herman Kisters

Second Lieutenant Gerry Herman Kisters, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 31, 1943 near Gagliano, Sicily, Sicily during World War II.

World War II July 31, 1943

Second Lieutenant Gerry Herman Kisters was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 31, 1943 near Gagliano, Sicily, Sicily during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company B, 91st Reconnaisance Squadron, 2d Armored Division (attached to the 1st Infantry Division). Kisters was 24 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 8, 1944.

Kisters was born on March 3, 1919 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. His Medal of Honor is credited to Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana. Kisters died on May 11, 1986 in Bloomington, Indiana, at the age of 67. He is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Bloomington, Indiana.

Kisters is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 75 credited to Indiana.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On 31 July 1943, near Gagliano, Sicily, a detachment of one officer and nine enlisted men, including Sgt. Kisters, advancing ahead of the leading elements of U.S. troops to fill a large crater in the only available vehicle route through Gagliano, was taken under fire by two enemy machine guns. Sgt. Kisters and the officer, unaided and in the face of intense small-arms fire, advanced on the nearest machine-gun emplacement and succeeded in capturing the gun and its crew of four. Although the greater part of the remaining small-arms fire was now directed on the captured machine-gun position, Sgt. Kisters voluntarily advanced alone toward the second gun emplacement. While creeping forward, he was struck five times by enemy bullets, receiving wounds in both legs and his right arm. Despite the wounds, he continued to advance on the enemy, and captured the second machine gun after killing three of its crew and forcing the fourth member to flee. The courage of this soldier and his unhesitating willingness to sacrifice his life, if necessary, served as an inspiration to the command.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

While creeping forward, he was struck five times by enemy bullets, receiving wounds in both legs and his right arm.
Despite the wounds, he continued to advance on the enemy, and captured the second machine gun after killing three of its crew and forcing the fourth member to flee.
  • Age at death: 67
  • Resting place: Rose Hill Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War II.

Places

  • Born: Salt Lake City — map
  • Died: Bloomington — map
  • Buried: Rose Hill Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →

Timeline

  1. March 3, 1919
    Born in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah
  2. July 31, 1943
    Act of valor — near Gagliano, Sicily, Sicily
    Age 24. Company B, 91st Reconnaisance Squadron, 2d Armored Division (attached to the 1st Infantry Division)
  3. February 8, 1944
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 11, 1986
    Died in Bloomington, Indiana
    Age 67.
  5. Resting place
    Rose Hill Cemetery
    Bloomington, Indiana

Biography

Gerry Herman Kisters (March 2, 1919 – May 11, 1986) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II.

From the Wikipedia article “Gerry H. Kisters”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 31, 1943

Rodger Wilton Young Private · Army World War II · 1943 ✦

More World War II recipients from Indiana

MB Melvin Earl Biddle Private First Class · Army World War II · 1944 Thomas Edward McCall Staff Sergeant · Army World War II · 1944 Norman Scott Rear Admiral · Navy World War II · 1942 ✦ David Monroe Shoup Colonel · Marine Corps World War II · 1943 Richard Nott Antrim Commander · Navy World War II · 1942 Frank Harry Ono Private First Class · Army World War II · 1944 ✦
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.