Medal of Honor: Dexter J. Kerstetter – World War II – April 13, 1945

Name: Dexter J. Kerstetter
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: Company C, 130th Infantry Regiment, 33d Infantry Division
Date of Action: April 13, 1945
Location: Near Galiano, Luzon, Philippine Islands

Summary of Action

On 13 April 1945, Private First Class Dexter J. Kerstetter distinguished himself during a dawn assault on enemy hill positions near Galiano, Luzon.

The objective could only be approached along a narrow ridge with steep cliffs on both sides.

Japanese defenders had fortified the area with mortars, machine guns, rifles, hidden spider holes, tunnels, and caves.

When the lead element was stopped by intense fire that caused five casualties, Kerstetter pushed through the American line with his squad.

Placing himself well ahead of his men, he climbed the narrow hogback ridge under the full force of enemy fire.

With accurate rifle shots and rifle grenades, he forced enemy soldiers into cover.

Then, leaving the trail, he descended a cliff using only precarious footholds.

Dropping suddenly among four Japanese troops at the mouth of a cave, he fired from the hip and killed them all.

Climbing back to the trail, he advanced again through machine-gun, rifle, and mortar fire.

He silenced a heavy machine gun by killing its four-man crew with rifle fire and grenades.

Using his last ammunition and grenades, he attacked a group of roughly twenty enemy soldiers, scattering them.

He then returned to his squad for more ammunition and treatment to his left hand, blistered from the heat of his rifle.

Rearmed, Kerstetter guided a fresh platoon into position for a coordinated assault, killing three more enemy soldiers along the way.

By day’s end, he had killed sixteen enemy troops.

The hill was captured and held despite three days of Japanese counterattacks.

Kerstetter’s fearless leadership and relentless assault were largely responsible for taking the key position and inspired all who fought beside him.

Medal of Honor Citation

KERSTETTER, DEXTER J.

Citation:
He was with his unit in a dawn attack against hill positions approachable only along a narrow ridge paralleled on each side by steep cliffs which were heavily defended by enemy mortars, machineguns, and rifles in well-camouflaged spider holes and tunnels leading to caves. When the leading element was halted by intense fire that inflicted 5 casualties, Pfc. Kerstetter passed through the American line with his squad. Placing himself well in advance of his men, he grimly worked his way up the narrow steep hogback, meeting the brunt of enemy action. With well-aimed shots and rifle-grenade fire, he forced the Japs to take cover. He left the trail and moving down a cliff that offered only precarious footholds, dropped among 4 Japs at the entrance to a cave, fired his rifle from his hip and killed them all. Climbing back to the trail, he advanced against heavy enemy machinegun, rifle, and mortar fire to silence a heavy machinegun by killing its crew of 4 with rifle fire and grenades. He expended his remaining ammunition and grenades on a group of approximately 20 Japs, scattering them, and returned to his squad for more ammunition and first aid for his left hand, which had been blistered by the heat from his rifle. Resupplied, he guided a fresh platoon into a position from which a concerted attack could be launched, killing 3 hostile soldiers on the way. In all, he dispatched 16 Japs that day. The hill was taken and held against the enemy’s counterattacks, which continued for 3 days. Pfc. Kerstetter’s dauntless and gallant heroism was largely responsible for the capture of this key enemy position, and his fearless attack in the face of great odds was an inspiration to his comrades in their dangerous task.