Miguel Keith
Miguel Keith | |
---|---|
Lance Corporal | |
Unit | 1st Combined Action Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War † |
Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Miguel Keith (June 2, 1951 – May 8, 1970) was a
Early years
Miguel Keith, a
Ordered to the
Upon completion of individual combat training on September 18, 1969, he received orders to the
While participating in combat in
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
LANCE CORPORAL MIGUEL KEITH
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPSfor service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner with Combined Action Platoon 1-3-2, III Marine Amphibious Force, operating in Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning of 8 May 1970, Lance Corporal Keith was seriously wounded when his platoon was subjected to a heavy ground attack by a greatly outnumbering enemy force. Despite his painful wounds, he ran across the fire-swept terrain to check the security of vital defensive positions, and then, while completely exposed to view, proceeded to deliver a hail of devastating machine gun fire against the enemy. Determined to stop five of the enemy approaching the command post, he rushed forward, firing as he advanced. He succeeded in disposing of three of the attackers and in dispersing the remaining two. At this point, a grenade detonated near Lance Corporal Keith, knocking him to the ground and inflicting further severe wounds. Fighting pain and weakness from loss of blood, he again braved the concentrated hostile fire to charge an estimated twenty-five enemy soldiers who were massing to attack. The vigor of his assault and his well-placed fire eliminated four of the enemy while the remainder fled for cover. During this valiant effort, he was mortally wounded by an enemy soldier. By his courageous and inspiring performance in the face of almost overwhelming odds, Lance Corporal Keith contributed in large measure to the success of his platoon in routing a numerically superior enemy force, and upheld the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
/S/
RICHARD M. NIXON
Lance Corporal Keith was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska.[1][2]
Decorations
His medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Medal of Honor | Purple Heart | Combat Action Ribbon |
National Defense Service Medal | Vietnam Service Medal with 1 bronze star | Vietnam Campaign Medal |
In memory
- The Wall
- Miguel Keith has his name inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial ("The Wall") on Panel 11W Line 132.[3]
- Henderson Hall barracks
- Keith Hall, a new barracks at Henderson Hall, Headquarters Marine Corps, Arlington, Virginia was dedicated on March 18, 1983, honoring LCPL Miguel Keith. A bronze plaque in the lobby recounts the heroic actions of LCPL Keith.[4]
- US Navy ship
- Montford Point-class Expeditionary Transfer Dock(ESD), both types of mobile sea bases, has been named in his honor and was commissioned on May 10, 2021.
- Miguel Keith Park and Memorial
- In 1994 a park in South Omaha was named after him. In 2013, a yellow ribbon sidewalk and monument were installed. The Marine Insignia monument from Omaha's Freedom Park relocated after it was damaged in Missouri River flooding in 2011.[5] In 2019, a life size bronze statue was dedicated at Miguel Keith Park in honor of the Medal of Honor recipient.[6]
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
- List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
- Hispanics in the United States Marine Corps
Notes
- ^ Leatherwood, Art. "Keith, Miguel (1951-1970)", Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "," http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fkeyj (accessed June 21, 2006).
- ^ "Miguel Hernandez Keith - Latino Vietnam War Hero". Making Invisible Histories Visible. Omaha Public Schools. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ Miguel Keith, LCPL, Marine Corps, The Virtual Wall. Retrieved on 2006-06-21.
- ^ Pettiey, Cpl. Kris. "PME to Focus on Medal of Honor recipient Miguel Keith",[permanent dead link] Henderson Hall News, dcmilitary.com, September 15, 2000. Retrieved on 2006-06-21.
- ^ "Miguel Hernandez Keith - Latino Vietnam War Hero". Making Invisible Histories Visible. Omaha Public Schools. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ Bronze statue of Miguel Keith revealed in honor of his 68th birthday, fox42kptm.com, Jun 2, 2019. Retrieved on 2019-06-05
References
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- "Lance Corporal Miguel Keith, USMC, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps". Archived from the original on April 24, 2003. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- "LCpl Miguel Keith, Medal of Honor, 1970, 1/3/2, III MAF, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam, Medal of Honor citation. Retrieved on 2006-06-21". Retrieved October 4, 2010.