NICKERSON, Kan. — A highway sign dedication ceremony honoring the 96th Infantry Division, known as the “Deadeye Division,” will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. at the Nickerson Community Center in Nickerson, Kan.
Hosted by Reno County Commissioner Ron and his wife Bette Hirst, the event welcomes the public, and especially veterans and families connected to the 96th Infantry Division. Light refreshments will be provided.
The Kansas Department of Transportation will install signs along K-96 in honor of the 96th Infantry Division and the Kansans who have served or continue to serve in it. The contributions of the division span World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the current 96th Sustainment Brigade.
According to Ron Hirst, the 96th Infantry Division earned its nickname, “Deadeye Division” under the leadership of Major General James L. Bradley and Brig. Gen. Claudius M. Easley, who emphasized “superior marksmanship.”
The division served in the Pacific Theatre and played critical roles in the Leyte and Okinawa battles. It has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation and five Congressional Medals of Honor.
Hirst has dedicated years to the memorial sign project. His father, Pfc. William N. Hirst, was killed in action on Okinawa in May 1945. Feeling inspired by a tribute in Pennsylvania and other 96th Infantry Division reunions he attended, he decided he wanted to honor Kansas veterans in a similar way.
“I wanted to provide a tribute to those who sacrificed so that we are able to have the freedom that we enjoy today, especially to those, who, like my dad, gave their all,” Hirst shared in a statement.
The ceremony will recognize Reno County “Deadeyes,” Sgt. J.L. Mock, S/Sgt. Clyde C. Thrasher, Harold Garrison, and Pfc. William N. Hirst, among others.
Those who attend the event can share memories and reflections. There will be a short presentation and a poem dedicated to military families as well.
For more information or to share names of family members who served in the 96th Infantry Division, contact Ron Hirst at [email protected].
