Posted on 03/15/2011 7:43:40 PM PDT by Born Conservative
For 55 years, George H. Keil barely breathed a word about the scars he bore on both legs - and a bullet still in one - and the actions in World War II that earned him medals including the Distinguished Service Cross, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. The Distinguished Service Cross is one step below a Medal of Honor.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Keil, 94, of the Hudson section of Plains Township, died Saturday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
"He was a true hero," said Gerry O'Donnell, friend and president and CEO of MotorWorld Automotive Group.
Newspaper clippings from 1944 and 1945 describe highlights of his military career with the 129th Regiment, 37th Division, between 1941 and 1945. One of three brothers serving simultaneously, he earned the Bronze Star for three days of defending his pillbox during the Battle of Bougainville.
The most striking story was from the Battle of Manila, for which he received the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross "for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action against enemy forces on 9 February 1945.
"Staff Sergeant Keil's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."
Trapped by Japanese forces on the Provisor Island, Keil, with machine gun wounds to both legs, risked his life to swim across a channel to get help for his fellow infantrymen. Two men who attempted before him were killed by machine gun fire.
"What I find incredible is he supposedly swam that channel with bullets in both legs," his daughter Janice said. "At that time, they didn't have the communication systems they had today, and the only way to get reinforcements was for someone to pretty much swim underwater that 50 yards."
Eight men were saved by his actions.
"He never really never talked about it with me. He always kept that personal. He said he went through too much over there," his son, Richard, said. Last year, when Keil was sick in the hospital, "he was almost crying. He said, 'I could have saved more lives. I could have saved more but they wouldn't let me swim across the river again.'"
His children are now looking for a copy of a book their father loaned to a friend during rehabilitation last year, about the 37th Division, so they can learn more.
It breaks my heart seeing these old WWII vets pass away.
We are losing some truly great men in this country.
/johnny
RIP
Superman
Very very sad. The WW2 profiteer libs and America haters like Spielberg and Hanks sicken me.
RIP.
Spielberg’s films are some of the best Americana of the last forty.
forty years
Back when I was in high school, Krushchev{sp?] siad our grandchildren would live under Communism. We thought he was full of shit. It looks like we were the ones that were wrong.
(( ping ))
Amen & Amen! Let us all salute Sgt. Keil a farewell salute of honor as a “True Hero.”
I was just 7 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked! But I understood very little about Japan & Germany back then.
We had no radios, not even the daily news papers where we lived. But when Uncles, cousins, some teachers, our principle, even our mail carrier left for the war, we all felt something big was happening to the whole world.
But I do remember the unity of the regular citizens, songs of victory, prayers for our Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines given everyday at our churches, schools, and our home prayers.
ping
R.I.P. hero.
Thanks, Lancey. What a hero.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.