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Woodrow Wilson Keeble

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Woodrow Wilson Keeble Veteran Famous memorial

Birth
Waubay, Day County, South Dakota, USA
Death
28 Jan 1982 (aged 64)
Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, USA
Burial
Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, USA GPS-Latitude: 45.6667, Longitude: -97.037
Memorial ID
View Source
Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was the first Sioux Indian to earn the award, which was awarded to him posthumously, more than twenty years after his death and almost six decades after his heroic actions. On October 20, 1951 he was near Kumsong battling the Chinese. With his fellow soldiers pinned down by heavy enemy gunfire Keeble, already wounded, made his way up a hill and single-handedly took out four machine gun bunkers, killing nine enemy soldiers. During the assault Keeble was hit multiple times, but he continued to fight, taking out two trenches of enemy troops, killing seven more riflemen and finally forcing the enemy to retreat. For his action, Keeble's men twice recommended him for the Medal of Honor, but the paperwork was lost. He instead received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second-highest commendation. Following his service in Korea, he returned to North Dakota where he worked as a counselor until a series of strokes rendered him unable to work. Over the years, hard times forced Keeble to pawn some of his medals. He died at the age of 65.
Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was the first Sioux Indian to earn the award, which was awarded to him posthumously, more than twenty years after his death and almost six decades after his heroic actions. On October 20, 1951 he was near Kumsong battling the Chinese. With his fellow soldiers pinned down by heavy enemy gunfire Keeble, already wounded, made his way up a hill and single-handedly took out four machine gun bunkers, killing nine enemy soldiers. During the assault Keeble was hit multiple times, but he continued to fight, taking out two trenches of enemy troops, killing seven more riflemen and finally forcing the enemy to retreat. For his action, Keeble's men twice recommended him for the Medal of Honor, but the paperwork was lost. He instead received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second-highest commendation. Following his service in Korea, he returned to North Dakota where he worked as a counselor until a series of strokes rendered him unable to work. Over the years, hard times forced Keeble to pawn some of his medals. He died at the age of 65.

Bio by: Elizabeth Reed


Inscription

MEDAL OF HONOR
M SGT US ARMY
WWII KOREA

SS BSM W/V & OLC
PH & OLC




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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Erik Lander
  • Added: Mar 3, 2008
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25022927/woodrow_wilson-keeble: accessed ), memorial page for Woodrow Wilson Keeble (16 May 1917–28 Jan 1982), Find a Grave Memorial ID 25022927, citing Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.