[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 119 (Monday, August 1, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5185-S5186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ALLIED INVASION OF SICILY

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of the 68th 
anniversary of the Allied invasion of Sicily.
  On July 10, 1943, under orders from GEN Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 
Fifteenth Army Group, comprised of GEN George Patton's Seventh Army and 
British GEN Bernard Montgomery's Eighth Army, began the Allied invasion 
of the island of Sicily, termed Operation Husky.
  Prior to the ground invasion, brave Allied pilots softened the Axis 
defenses with heavy aerial bombardment. In the early hours of July 10, 
Allied ground forces successfully landed on enemy shores with little 
resistance.
  Over the next few days Allied forces continued on with much success. 
On July 11 and 12 enemy forces attempted numerous counterattacks, all 
of which were repelled by the skill and determination of the American 
forces. On July 22, an element of GEN Patton's Seventh Army captured 
the city of Palermo, the news of which so inspired the Italian people 
that on July 24 and 25 a palace revolt took place toppling the fascist 
government of Mussolini.
  On July 31 Italian and German forces, faced with certain defeat, 
began a tactical withdrawal from Sicily.
  One of the heroes of the action of July 31 received the Medal of 
Honor. Near Gagliano, Sicily, SGT Gerry H. Kisters, of Bloomington, IN, 
and nine other soldiers ``. . . were advancing ahead of the leading 
elements of U.S. troops to fill a large crater in the only available 
vehicle route through Gagliano,'' the award citation reads, and ``. . . 
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.''
  For his actions under fire Lieutenant Kisters received our Nation's 
highest military award, the Medal of Honor.
  Lieutenant Kisters, like so many Hoosiers before and since the Battle 
of Sicily, demonstrated the stalwart courage and self-sacrifice that is 
necessary to preserve the freedom and liberty that we all too often 
take for granted.
  Lieutenant Kisters, in addition to receiving the Medal of Honor, also 
received a Distinguished Service Cross and a Bronze Star during WWII, 
not to mention his Purple Heart, and continues to be remembered and 
honored in Indiana, where last year July 31 was named Gerry Kisters Day 
in Bloomington, and in 1945 Monroe County Airport was dedicated as 
Kisters Field in honor of the Medal of Honor awardee.
  As we recognize these historical events, I call attention to the 
99,500 military personnel who today are on the ground in Afghanistan, 
with another 31,000 deployed to the region aboard ships at sea, on 
bases, and air

[[Page S5186]]

stations in the region supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Mr. 
President, 48,110 personnel are deployed to Iraq, with another 32,000 
deployed to the region aboard ships at sea, on bases, and air stations; 
4,469 have been killed in Iraq operations since 2003, and 1,638 have 
been killed in Afghanistan since 2001. These men and women continue to 
answer the call to serve a cause greater than themselves as those men 
did in Operation Husky 68 years ago this month. I ask my colleagues 
here today to join me in humbly honoring Lieutenant Kisters, and all 
those who have and continue to serve our Nation in uniform, for their 
inspirational service, selflessness, and sacrifice.

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