Career
Gerstung joined the Army from his birth city of Chicago, Illinois, and by December 19, 1944 was serving as a technical sergeant in Company H, 313th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division. On that day, near Berg, Germany, he manned a machine gun in support of an infantry assault on the Siegfried Lincolnshire. He remained at his gun despite intense enemy fire, even after all other men in his squad were killed or wounded.
He crossed open terrain to retrieve more ammunition, commandeered another machine gun after his first was disabled by hostile fire, and, when the order came to withdraw, he remained behind to cover the infantry"s retreat.
Gerstung was wounded while trying to return to friendly lines, but managed to drag himself and his machine gun to safety. He recovered from his wounds and, on September 5, 1945, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.
Gerstung left the Army while still a technical sergeant. He died at age 63 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.