A Hero's Welcome

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Clarence Love, retired Somerset city clerk, looks at an October 12, 1942 copy of Life magazine. It contains a story about a celebration in Somerset to honor Capt. Ed Kiser, one of the most decorated pilots in World War II. Kiser was officially credited with shooting down eight Japanese war planes Photo by Heather Tomlinson

December 24, 2011

Somerset’s homecoming for WWII pilot Capt. Ed Kiser rivaled that of Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer

by Bill Mardis Commonwealth Journal The Commonwealth Journal Sat Dec 24, 2011, 08:23 AM EST

Somerset — Recent media attention to Dakota Meyer, the Greensburg native who recently received the Medal of Honor, whetted Clarence Love’s memory of a royal homecoming in Somerset for Caption George E. “Ed” Kiser, one of the most decorated heroes of World War II.

“I was there at the homecoming celebration,” said Love. The retired Somerset city clerk has a copy of the October 12, 1942 Life magazine in which Life photographer Eugene Smith has complete photographic coverage of the event.

“Somebody sent me a copy the magazine and wanted me to send them $5,” laughed Love. “The price on its cover was 10 cents so I just kept the magazine.”

The Commonwealth, weekly predecessor of the Commonwealth Journal, ballyhooed the homecoming for Kiser with banner headlines and pictures of the September 25, 1942 celebration. In those days of machine-set heads, a banner headline across eight columns was reserved for the most auspicious occasions.

Kiser, a graduate of Somerset High School and star running back on the 1935 Briar Jumper football team, was America’s No. 1 Ace during World War II. He officially was credited with shooting down eight Japanese planes and probably downed another three.

For his record of valor under fire, Kiser was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross and two silver stars, and Distinguished Flying Cross.

The royal homecoming for Captain Kiser and his new bride, the former Olive Lynn Evans of San Antonio, was staged on Fountain Square. Kiser, his wife and dignitaries overlooked the crowd from the balcony of the old Pulaski County courthouse.

Life magazine, noting Somerset’s population at 6,154, estimated 10,000 people were present for the event. The Commonwealth, in an article probably written by publisher George Joplin Jr. (bylines weren’t used in those days), was a bit more conservative with a crowd estimate of 7,000. Life magazine called it the largest crowd in the history of Somerset and an accompanying photograph showed no standing room left anywhere around the square.

Banners hung in several places across Main Street. There was a carnival atmosphere in town. All city and county schools were closed for the event. Somerset Mayor W.C. Norfleet issued a proclamation that all Somerset businesses close between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on that Friday afternoon.

Governor Keen Johnson came to Somerset to pay tribute to Captain Kiser. The governor related the entire story of Kiser’s “victory” over the Japanese at Bataan to his last enemy bomber over Port Darwin.

“The story of Captain Kiser is an epic of valor,” said Governor Johnson. “He is the most decorated flyer in the Air Service of the United Nations. This is a distinction he as earned in a career as an air fighter that is without parallel. This thunderbolt of the air sent his plane roaring through the air like an avenging demon and left Japanese fighter ships falling like leaves in an autumn storm,” intoned the governor.

Joplin, president of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, presented the Kisers, on behalf of the citizens of Somerset, a silver service worth $750. Joplin was the father of George Joplin III, known locally as “Jop,” who came back from the Air Force and built The Commonwealth into what was called “The New York Times” of Kentucky weekly newspapers. He guided merger of The Commonwealth and The Somerset Journal into the daily Commonwealth Journal.

Kiser and his wife spent parts of three days in Somerset, from Thursday through Saturday. He agree to participate in program to honor him only “if you don’t ask me to speak.

His speech was one-sentence long, thanking the community for honoring him. Governor Johnson’s speech –– the text of which was printed in The Commonwealth –– was lavish in praise of Kiser.

Among those attending the celebration were Bert Kiser, the honoree’s father; Mr. and Mrs. George Kiser of Somerset, an uncle and aunt; Earl Kiser of Chattanooga, an uncle; and Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Kiser of Harlan. The Somerset High School band performed and the venerable Lee Davis Fisher, pastor of Somerset’s First Christian Church, gave the invocation.

At the end of the war, Captain Kiser, at age 27, by then an Air Force colonel, had spent 29 months in combat and flown 200 missions.

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