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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Sep '94
William Martin Kiser
No.15734 Class of 1946
Died 8 June 1993 in Honolulu, Hawaii, aged 71 years. Interment:
Ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean off Honolulu, Hawaii.
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William Martin (Bill) Kiser was an Army brat born
at Fort Lewis, Washington on 9 February 1922. In the course of
accompanying his parents to various Army posts, Bill attended
many schools. His interests as a boy were typical for his day:
model airplanes, crystal radio sets and put together sets of
any kind. His sister Janet recalled that Bill could make just
about anything, especially miniatures. His father was stationed
at Fort Sam Houston, Texas when Bill reached high school age,
and he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio.
From there he attended Sullivan's Preparatory School in Washington,
DC for a year before gaining his appointment to West Point. He
entered in 1942 with the class of 1945. During Plebe Year he
contracted scarlet fever and was turned back to join the Class
of 1946.
His Army background served him well, and he managed
to weather cadet years with a minimum of trouble. One of his
roommates, Robert F.M. (Bob) Duncan, recalled that as a cadet
Bill demonstrated the quiet, courteous demeanor that was to be
a hallmark of his life. Upon graduation, Bill pinned on the bars
of a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery.
Bill married Betty Jean McCrum while on graduation
leave and they traveled together to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for the
Artillery Basic Course. The course was divided into two parts
with the second at Fort Bliss, Texas. Friend, classmate and fellow
Artilleryman Lieutenant Colonel Harry Davis (USA Ret), recalled
that the two couples shared living quarters while at Fort Bliss.
Although the quarters were quite small, the two couples managed
just fine due mainly to Bill's good nature, cooperation and sense
of humor. Harry recounted, "After Basic, Bill and I were
assigned to the 53rd Field Artillery Battalion, 6th Infantry
Division at Masan, Korea. We both ended up as executive officers
in firing batteries. Again, Bill and I lived together--this time
in a BOQ room hardly big enough for one man, let alone two. As
before, Bill's quiet nature, sense of humor and consideration
made life bearable under less than ideal conditions.
"During this time Bill became interested in
the mechanics of our equipment above what was required at the
firing battery level. He obtained Ordnance publications on our
howitzers and vehicles and studied them intently. In February
1949, Bill and I were assigned to the 508th Armored Division
at Camp Hood, Texas. Bill expressed his interest in equipment
maintenance and was assigned as battalion motor officer, where
he did an excellent job. When the Korean War broke out in 1950,
our battalion was alerted and quickly dispatched Bill went to
Korea with the battalion, while I was detailed elsewhere. That
was the last time I had close contact with Bill. Bill was a quiet
but resourceful individual, dedicated to the job and one of the
most cooperative people I ever worked with."
From Korea, Bill was assigned to the Artillery
School at Fort Sill. He decided that his interest in things mechanical
was of sufficient importance that he transferred to the Ordnance
Corps in 1953. After attending the Ordnance School at Aberdeen
Proving Grounds, Maryland he was assigned there. From Aberdeen
Bill attended the Royal Military School of Science in England;
then went onto Germany to command the 585th Ordnance Company.
Returning to the states, Bill was assigned to the Field Service
Division of the Army Rocket and Guided Missile Agency at Redstone
Arsenal, Alabama. He later became chief of protocol at Redstone.
In 1963, Bill was assigned once more to Korea; and in 1964 became
the troop commander at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
A classmate and fellow Ordnance officer, Ken Van
Auken, recalled: "Bill and I were stationed at White Sands
in 1964 and were neighbors in the post housing area. He was the
troop commander, a challenging position since the range was so
isolated. He did a great job; Navy, Air Force and NASA personnel
assigned to the range looked to him for help. He was extremely
popular with his fellow officers and the many civilians he worked
with."
In 1966, Bill retired as a lieutenant colonel.
He went to work as an engineer for McDonnell Douglas Corporation
in St. Louis, Missouri and remained with them until he retired
completely and moved to Hawaii. His wife, Betty, died of cancer
in 1981. In retirement, Bill continued his love of making things.
He made clocks and gave them to his friends. He also loved to
invent things, most of which were of a humorous nature. Bill
married Muriel Lovens on 2 February 1982 in Hawaii. Bill Kiser
died from complications with his heart, liver and kidneys on
8 June 1993. He is survived by his wife, Muriel; sons Robert
and Richard; daughter Ann; and a sister, Janet Billington.
Bill Kiser grew up the son of a Regular Army family,
and his burning ambition was to attend West Point and serve his
country. He achieved his ambition and was proud to have done
so. His family, friends and classmates all remember that Bill
was a super patriot and a true gentleman at all times. He also
was a gentle man. Bill cherished his West Point ties and never
failed to live up to its motto. Duty, Honor, Country were not
just words to him but a credo that sustained him throughout his
life. William Martin Kiser will be remembered lovingly by his
family, friends and classmates who join in proclaiming, "Well
Done, Bill; Be Thou At Peace."
'46 Memorial Article Project and his family
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