Yeah, the fire happened in the 70′s. I’m sure the military had poor records before this as well. I’ve tried looking for my grandfather’s records (what he had was a mess) and that fire is the main reason why I can’t find anything out about his time in WWII and Korea. He received 3 Bronze Stars, never talked about them, and my family only found out after he died that he got them.

How does the Army lose all those letters?

badger on March 10, 2008 at 6:38 AM
Very poor records keeping. Like I said in my first post, the Military is famous for it. Bases get closed, things get moved around, misplaced.

SuperManGreenLantern on March 10, 2008 at 10:23 AM

I remember hearing about a huge fire in St. Louis (I believe) that wiped out huge amounts of Army personnel documents. This may explain some of the poor record keeping.

Either way, I’m fairly certain that there is a special place in heaven for Mister Woodrow Wilson Keeble. He was and still is truly among the best examples of valor to be found in American history.

Your post reminds me of a book titled “Just Americans” about the 442nd I.D. in WW2 made up of Japanese American Soldiers.

Yes, indeed. America is the winner with people like this in her midst. What an awe inspiring deed. Will we wait 50 more years for the movie?

Missed opportunity continuously knocks.

The first Sioux Medal of Honor recipient, a little late…

Last week my father-in-law was buried in the Punchbowl in Hawaii with due military honors. There was nothing in those honors, and nor ought there to have been, to separate Mas as Nisei. He was a US Soldier.

Scribbler on March 10, 2008 at 10:31 AM

My uncle (who was killed on Iwo Jima by a sniper) is also buried in Punchbowl in Hawaii. He was 19 years old when he was killed.

I just went there (Punchbowl) last summer and I’m actually the only one in my family who has ever been there. It’s an absolutely beautiful cemetary and I am grateful that I got to visit there.

There were grave markers in every direction and not a one of them mentioned skin color… you are right. They are all Americans and I’m proud of all of them.

Although Mr. Keeble got his Medal of Honor award posthumously, I’m glad that he still received it. Based on what I’ve read, he is a true American hero and he more than deserved it.

Take a close look at that man’s uniform. There’s not a thing on it that says ‘Sioux.’ That man is a US Soldier.

Last week my father-in-law was buried in the Punchbowl in Hawaii with due military honors. There was nothing in those honors, and nor ought there to have been, to separate Mas as Nisei. He was a US Soldier.

We are Americans. And our heroes are heroes.

And if you want to know what color a man is, look at his uniform. Those good men were Army green.

satis est.

How does the Army lose all those letters?

badger on March 10, 2008 at 6:38 AM

Very poor records keeping. Like I said in my first post, the Military is famous for it. Bases get closed, things get moved around, misplaced.

Me needer. On my last trip to the book store I saw one about a soldier (whose name escapes me now) in WW2 who killed more enemy troops than Audie Murphy but somehow the story was lost. The guy was white so it wasn’t a racial thing. It just happens.

Tony737 on March 10, 2008 at 7:04 AM

Unfortunately, it looks as though I may have to! ::sigh::

And you’re not gonna take it anymore? :-)