“The family has given us some incredibly unique artifacts,” said Linda Rippy, director of the Marshall County Historical Museum. “We are really thrilled to have some of the extremely unique items they’ve given us. These are items that are one of a kind for us.”
While Brigadier General David Hiester attained the highest rank among the family, sister Grace Berneil, brother Arthur Eugene, and brother Oliver Wendell all served with the U.S. military — and David’s son David Jr., and two of David’s grandchildren — David Painter and granddaughter Deirdre Painter Dixon — served the country, with distinction.
World War II served as the initial catalyst for the Hiester family in their service of country with Grace joining the war effort in the 40s as a Cadet Nurse. When the war concluded she married a returning veteran and they raised a family, retiring in Niles, Mich.
Arthur served in Switzer-land and Belgium during the war and left with the rank of Corporal. He was Postmaster of Bremen for 35 years and his widow Pat, still resides in the city.
Wendell was a Navy man earning his flight wings rising to the rank of Lt. Commander. While he left active duty after the war, he maintained his reserve status for 40 years and as an instructor pilot taught hundreds of new recruits to fly.
Brigadier General David Hiester graduated from West Point in 1936 and chose field artillery as his branch of service. He was on duty at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He attained the rank of General Officer while serving in Detroit where he was instrumental in developing the Army’s first computer.
His last command was Commanding General of the Ordinance Center and School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, in Maryland where he retired in 1967 after 35 years of service. He and his wife of 66 years are buried at the cemetery at West Point.
His son Lt. David W. Hiester Jr. graduated from West Point in 1961, grandson Colonel David Painter graduated from West Point in 1983, and just returned from a tour in Iraq.
Grandaughter LTC. Deir-dre Painter Dixon graduated from Westpoint in 1984 and served as a company commander in Desert Storm. She retired from the army after 26 years.
“Giving the family’s name to our Military Room was a perfect fit,” said Rippy of the honor for the Bremen natives. “They’ve made available some beautiful uniforms and other exceptional pieces that many people would never otherwise be able to see.”
Uniforms and unique items from West Point, and rare military artifacts such as presentation flags will all be on display after the museum’s renovation.
“We’ll have an open house once everything is complete and in place,” said Rippy. “The room will be full of artifacts and we want to be sure everybody has a chance to see them.”