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![]() ![]() ![]() by Kay B. Day ![]() Sgt. Leonard B. Keller pulled out of the parking lot of a veterans’ association on Sunday in Milton (Fla.), taking a sharp left turn to hit the highway on his Harley. Something went wrong, and the motorcycle overturned. When Sgt. Keller, 62, died later that day, Florida’s loss spoke to the heart of a nation. Keller belonged to one of the most exclusive and distinguished groups in our country—he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Known colloquially as the Congressional Medal of Honor, the award is the highest military award for valor in combat. Sgt. Keller’s citation gives an idea of what a soldier does to earn the distinction. On May 2, 1967, the Ap Bac Zone in the Republic of Vietnam wasn’t a place anyone would really want to be. An enemy ambush had occurred and Sgt. Keller’s unit came in to sweep the area. Suddenly intense automatic weapons and small arms fire erupted from enemy bunkers. Numerous snipers fired mercilessly, perched in trees. Wounded American troops were scattered on the ground. MSNBC recounted Keller’s response that would earn him the Medal of Honor: “His own unit was also taking casualties. As he heard voices yelling, ‘Retreat!’ Keller became angry and called out, ‘Let’s go get them!’ to an American named Ray. The two of them charged the enemy.” What Keller did that day is painstakingly described in the official citation: ![]() Some would read that passage and rightfully recognize a willingness to sacrifice self for the benefit of others. Some would read the same words and rightfully recognize a level of bravery few of us will ever know—a deliberate defiance of death, a split-second decision to fight in a context where there is no guarantee of fairness or outcome. There was no debate, discussion or extended analysis—just reflexive action based on the innate qualities that define a hero. Keller’s citation pointed out the sergeant’s “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty…His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.” Major General James E. Livingston (USMC, Ret.), a fellow Medal of Honor recipient who knew Sgt. Keller, spoke to The US Report by phone from his Lowcountry South Carolina home. Livingston and Keller knew each other through various MOH events across the country. He said Keller “was not particularly outspoken—he was kind of quiet—very very likable.” In the classic hero sense Livingston called Keller an “humble” person. People liked to be around the Illinois native who, after leaving the Army, worked at the Naval Supply Center, Gulf Coast Supply Operations for 22 years in Pensacola. Keller had just retired from that job when the accident occurred in Milton. “He was enjoying retirement, having a ball,” Livingston said. “This really saddens me—he was finally at a time in his life when he could do what he wanted.” When the article about Keller was published at MSNBC, many readers weighed in with their own opinions of the MOH recipient. One man wrote, “I am a pilot currently serving at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, FL. I had no idea that the man who issued my flight gear was a Medal of Honor winner…” The loss of Sgt. Keller leaves less than 100 living recipients of the MOH. The 2010 MOH convention in Charleston will be hosted by the South Carolina State Guard Foundation, one of our nation’s oldest, most respected state defense forces, and the Citadel. As mere mortals, recognizing the bravery of these heroes is the least we can do. Update on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 12:00PM by Kay B. Day Followup on Sgt. Keller's fellow MOH recipient After a reader asked about the soldier named Ray who fought with Sgt. Keller, we did some quick research. That solder, Raymond R. Wright, Jr., also received the Medal of Honor for his valor in that battle. We focused on Sgt. Keller for this article, but we plan to do additional stories on MOH recipients in the future. We thank our reader for asking an excellent question and we hope we have addressed it suitably.--best, Editor TUSR http://www.theusreport.com/the-us-re...he-nation.html
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