Hereos of World War Ii

Heroes       
                        of  
            World
                      War II


                                                              By: JAHI JAMES
                      Sgt. Gerry H. Kisters
                                

Gerry H. Kisters was born   March 2, 1919 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was a Second Lieutenant (then Sergeant) of the   U.S. Army, 2d Armored Division. On July 31,1943, 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 defenses 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 defenses . 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. He received a medal of citation that tells his inspiring story. Gerry kister died in 1986 a brave man.
                                Cpl. Arthur O. Beyer
                                    

Arthur O. Beyer was born May 20, 1909. Beyer is recognized for his bravery. On January 15, 1945 His platoon, in which he was a tank-destroyer gunner, was held up by antitank, machinegun, and rifle fire from enemy troops dug in along a ridge about 200 yards to the front. "Noting a machinegun position in this...