PFC Ralph Leroy Keeler was born on July 4, 1945, in Taft, California to a loving family. He was one of nine children. He was nicknamed "Flash" because he was born on the 4th of July and Flash is what he was known by to everyone he knew. He had red hair and a slight build and attended local schools. He loved horses and was a member of the Taft Gymkhana and won several awards during his membership with the group. Flash was married to his sweetheart and together they had one son born in 1963. He was employed by Taylor Oilfield Construction Company prior to entering the Army.PFC Ralph Leroy Keeler enlisted in the Army in 1965 and went through basic training at Ft. Hood, Texas where he received the expert marksmanship medal. From Ft. Hood he next trained for jungle warfare at Ft. Lewis, Washington. He began his tour of duty in Vietnam on July 1, 1966 and was assigned to A Company 1st Battalion 12th Infantry 4 infantry Division -- nicknamed "Red Warriors". On September 4, 1966, PFC Ralph Keeler died of a wound received while on a training exercise when a friendly mortar round detonated. PFC Ralph Leroy "Flash" Keeler's services were held at the Erickson & Brown Chapel and his burial was in the Veterans Plot at the West Side District Cemetery in Taft, California.Rest in eternal peace Flash.(Source: Obituary) PFC RALPH LEROY KEELER is honored on Panel 10E, Row 68 of the Vietnam War Memorial, in Constitution Gardens, Washington, DC.PFC Ralph Earl Keeler's name was place by NASA on the STARDUST spacecraft, which visited Comet Wild 2 in 2004 -- as special tribute all names on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC were included.
PFC Ralph Leroy Keeler was born on July 4, 1945, in Taft, California to a loving family. He was one of nine children. He was nicknamed "Flash" because he was born on the 4th of July and Flash is what he was known by to everyone he knew. He had red hair and a slight build and attended local schools. He loved horses and was a member of the Taft Gymkhana and won several awards during his membership with the group. Flash was married to his sweetheart and together they had one son born in 1963. He was employed by Taylor Oilfield Construction Company prior to entering the Army.PFC Ralph Leroy Keeler enlisted in the Army in 1965 and went through basic training at Ft. Hood, Texas where he received the expert marksmanship medal. From Ft. Hood he next trained for jungle warfare at Ft. Lewis, Washington. He began his tour of duty in Vietnam on July 1, 1966 and was assigned to A Company 1st Battalion 12th Infantry 4 infantry Division -- nicknamed "Red Warriors". On September 4, 1966, PFC Ralph Keeler died of a wound received while on a training exercise when a friendly mortar round detonated. PFC Ralph Leroy "Flash" Keeler's services were held at the Erickson & Brown Chapel and his burial was in the Veterans Plot at the West Side District Cemetery in Taft, California.Rest in eternal peace Flash.(Source: Obituary) PFC RALPH LEROY KEELER is honored on Panel 10E, Row 68 of the Vietnam War Memorial, in Constitution Gardens, Washington, DC.PFC Ralph Earl Keeler's name was place by NASA on the STARDUST spacecraft, which visited Comet Wild 2 in 2004 -- as special tribute all names on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC were included.
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