Medal of Honor: Gerry H. Kisters – World War II, July 31, 1944
Bullets tore into him. Once. Twice. A third time. Then a fourth. And fifth. His legs were shot out from under him. His right arm mangled. But still, he dragged himself forward—inch by agonizing inch
July 31, 2025
"Five Bullets and an Unbreakable Will"
Gerry H. Kisters
Rank: Second Lieutenant (then Sergeant)
Conflict: World War II
Unit: 2nd Armored Division
Date of Action: July 31, 1943
Location: Near Gagliano, Sicily
Summary of Action:
The road to Gagliano was blocked by a deep crater, impassable to tanks and trucks. It was the only way forward—and the enemy knew it. Two German machine guns had the approach zeroed in, spitting fire at any American who dared step into the kill zone.
Into that storm walked Sergeant Gerry Kisters.
He and a lone officer moved forward under the withering barrage, determined to take out the threat. Together they assaulted the first position, capturing the gun and its four-man crew. But the enemy wasn’t done. From the second machine gun nest, fire intensified—now aimed squarely at the Americans’ newly gained foothold.
And that's when Kisters made a choice that separates the brave from the legendary.
Without orders. Without backup. Already bleeding. He advanced—alone.
Bullets tore into him. Once. Twice. A third time. Then a fourth. And fifth. His legs were shot out from under him. His right arm mangled. But still, he dragged himself forward—inch by agonizing inch—until he reached the second gun.
With one good hand and nothing left to lose, Kisters opened fire. Three Germans fell. The fourth ran. And in that moment, with blood staining the Sicilian soil, Gerry Kisters silenced both guns—and cleared the path for the American advance.
Medal of Honor Citation:
On 31 July 1943, near Gagliano, Sicily, a detachment of 1 officer and 9 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 2 enemy machineguns. Sgt. Kisters and the officer, unaided and in the face of intense small arms fire, advanced on the nearest machinegun emplacement and succeeded in capturing the gun and its crew of 4. Although the greater part of the remaining small arms fire was now directed on the captured machinegun position, Sgt. Kisters voluntarily advanced alone toward the second gun emplacement. While creeping forward, he was struck 5 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 machinegun after killing 3 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.