Elbert Luther Kinser was born on October 21, 1922, in Greeneville and grew up working long days on the family farm. Two months after he turned 18, Kinser joined the United States Marine Corps.

A sergeant by 1945, Kinser saw action at New Britain and Peleliu in the Pacific Theater of World War II; he was in command of a rifle platoon. The Battle for Okinawa had been raging for more than a month when Kinser was wounded in action on May 4, 1945. As the stretcher bearing Sergeant Kinser was being evacuated, a Japanese hand grenade landed next to it. Without hesitation, Kinser rolled off the stretcher and on top of the enemy grenade, absorbing the blast with his body and saving the four corpsman who had been carrying him. For this action, Kinser was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, as well as a Purple Heart.

There are several memorials and structures named in Kinser’s honor, including in his hometown of Greeneville.