KERSTETTER, DEXTER J. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 130th
Infantry, 33d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Galiano, Luzon, Philippine
Islands, 13 April 1945. Entered service at: Centralia, Wash. Birth: Centralia,
Wash. G.O. No.: 97,1 November 1945. 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.
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