Woodrow "Woody" Keeble
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Woodrow "Woody" Keeble served in World War II and in the Korean War in the U. S. Army. His rank was Army Master Sergeant.
Mr. Keeble died in 1982 at age 65.
Mr. Keeble was awarded the: Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star with Valor device and oak leaf cluster, Purple Hearts with oak leaf cluster (later credited with four Purple Hearts), Combat Infantry Badge with star (denoting combat service in two wars) and seventeen other awards and decorations.
Source: Newspaper article, below:
--- “Keeble Is First Sioux to Receive Medal of Honor” Washington, D.C. (AP)
Nearly 26 years after his death, Army Master Sgt. Woodrow “Woody” Keeble was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on March 3 [, 2008,] for his efforts during the Korean War.
Keeble is the first Sioux Indian to receive the honor, and the 10th person to receive the medal from President Bush. Keeble’s stepson, Russell Hawkins, accepted the medal at a ceremony held in the East Room of the White House.
A member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux, Keebler served in two wars and is one of the most decorated soldiers in history, yet he was never considered for the Medal of Honor due to bureaucratic mix-ups. After a long effort by Keeble’s family, fellow soldiers, tribal members and two U.S. senators, Congress approved the nomination in 2002.
“I am very pleased that Master Sgt. Keeble’s bravery and valor will be recognized with our nation’s highest military honor,” Senator Tim Johnson said. “The Keeble family, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, and all the people of Dakotas today have reason to celebrate and remember his service and valor.”
Born in Waubay, South Dakota, Keeble moved to Wahpeton, North Dakota as a child. When he was old enough, Keeble joined the North Dakota National Guard and, in 1942, shipped out to the South Pacific with the North Dakota 164th Infantry Regiment.
On the island of Guadalcanal, Keeble saw some of the most intense combat of WWII. In October 1942, was wounded in an attempt to rescue his comrades. He was recognized for his actions and awarded his first Bronze Star and the first of his four Purple Hearts.
Keeble returned to service in the Korean War at age 34 as a Master Sergeant. 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 took out four machine gun bunkers.
For his action, Keeble’s men twice recommended him for the Medal of Honor but Keeble instead, received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army’s second-highest commendation.
Keeble served in two wars and is one of the most decorated soldiers in history, having received two Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, a Combat Infantryman Badge and the Distinguished Service Cross.
Following his service in Korea, Keeble returned to North Dakota where he worked as a counselor until a series of strokes rendered him unable to work. He died in 1982, at the age of 65 and is buried in Sisseton, South Dakota.
Source: The Circle: Native American News and Arts, March 2008
