BLOOMINGTON — The community of Bloomington is preparing to commemorate the extraordinary legacy of World War II hero Gerry H. Kisters with the formal dedication of an Indiana State Historical Marker later this month.
The public ceremony is scheduled for Friday, August 28, at 4:00 p.m. outside the administrative building at the Monroe County Airport—a facility that already honors the veteran by bearing the designation Kisters Field.
Sponsored jointly by the Indiana Historical Bureau and the Monroe County History Center, the newly installed marker stands as a permanent tribute to Bloomington’s most decorated World War II serviceman.
Kisters achieved a singular place in American military history by becoming the first soldier or sailor in World War II to earn both the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for military valor.
Serving as a sergeant with the U.S. Army’s 2nd Armored Division, Kisters earned his recognition through daring actions in the North African and Mediterranean theaters:
- Distinguished Service Cross (Gafsa, Tunisia – May 1943): Kisters advanced alone under heavy enemy fire to destroy an enemy machine-gun position, capturing several prisoners and securing vital terrain for his unit.
- Medal of Honor (Gagliano, Sicily – July 1943): Just months later, Kisters and a fellow soldier charged an artillery position under intense mortar and small-arms fire. Despite suffering multiple severe gunshot wounds, Kisters single-handedly neutralized a key machine-gun nest, allowing his squad to advance and capture the objective.
Upon returning home, Kisters became a prominent local figure, engaging in civic affairs and running business operations in the Bloomington community until his death in 1993.
The August 28 program will feature insights into Kisters’ war service, local impact, and personal life through speeches from community leaders and historians:
- Nick Cullather, an Indiana University historian specializing in 20th-century diplomacy, will detail the strategic international context of Kisters’ service in North Africa and Italy.
- John Summerlot, local historian and veterans affairs specialist, will speak on the influential role World War II veterans played in shaping postwar civic life in Bloomington.
- Justin Robertson, operations manager at the Monroe County History Center and Kisters’ nephew, will share personal family memories and outline Kisters’ postwar business ventures.
The event is free and open to the public, offering residents, history enthusiasts, and veterans an opportunity to honor one of Indiana’s most distinguished military figures.
