Maj. Dexter Kerstetter Honored for Heroism in WWII Philippines Campaign
At 34, when most men were considered too old for combat, Army Maj. Dexter James Kerstetter defied the odds. Nicknamed “Pop” by his younger comrades, Kerstetter proved to be a fearless leader and key inspiration during one of the most critical battles of World War II. On Medal of Honor Monday, his legacy continues to shine as a symbol of valor and selfless service.
Born on December 21, 1907, in Centralia, Washington, Kerstetter was one of eight children raised by George and Lydia Kerstetter. He left high school after two years to work as a mechanic at a local creamery before moving to Portland, Oregon, for shipyard work.
When America entered WWII, Kerstetter felt compelled to serve. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 18, 1942, joining soldiers mostly a decade younger. Initially serving as a cook’s aide with the 130th Infantry Regiment of the 33rd Infantry Division, he trained in Hawaii and was later deployed to New Guinea in 1944.
In early 1945, Kerstetter’s division landed at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon Island during the campaign to liberate the Philippines. Eager for frontline duty, he requested and was granted a transfer to a combat role as a forward scout.
On April 13, 1945, during a dawn assault on heavily fortified Japanese positions, Kerstetter’s company faced brutal resistance. With five men down, he led his squad to the front. Advancing alone to draw enemy fire, Kerstetter braved bullets and grenades to locate enemy hideouts. Navigating steep cliffs and narrow trails, he personally eliminated a cave full of four enemy soldiers, destroyed a heavy machine-gun crew, and scattered around 20 enemy troops with his remaining ammo and grenades.
Despite a blistered hand, he returned for ammunition and medical supplies before guiding reinforcements to launch another successful attack—killing three more enemy soldiers in the process. His fearless actions helped his unit seize and hold the hill for three more days amid fierce counterattacks. Kerstetter was wounded by sniper fire during that time and spent two months hospitalized, earning a promotion to sergeant.
He was discharged in August 1945 and returned home to Centralia to work in mechanical repair. On October 12, 1945, President Harry S. Truman awarded him the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony alongside 14 other heroes.
Kerstetter continued serving in the Washington State National Guard, eventually rising to the rank of major. He later worked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton and was an active member of veterans’ groups. A passionate outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and raised six children and three stepchildren across three marriages.
Tragically, on July 9, 1972, just weeks after retiring from the shipyard and ahead of his expected National Guard retirement as a lieutenant colonel, Kerstetter drowned during a fishing trip in Hood Canal after his small boat capsized. His body was never recovered.
In remembrance, a grave marker at Tahoma National Cemetery honors him, and in 2014, a street at Joint Base Lewis-McChord was named after him, preserving the legacy of a man who proved that courage knows no age.
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