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A Tribute: David Willard Keeran |
The following information is taken from an
article written by Judy Brown-Kurnik for the Argus-Press, Owosso Michigan.
She gathered information for the story from John (Jack) Smith, Bravo Co,
1964-66 (with an initial stint in Vietnam as part of the "Shotgun" program in
1965), and Jerry Giesken, Bravo Co., 1966-67.
24 May 1966
SGT David Willard Keeran
Jerry
Giesken became a member of Bravo Company under the
leadership of Sgt. Willard David Keeran, an 18 year career soldier who had
served in Korea. He recalls that Sgt. Keeran was a "tough guy.
Nobody gave him any lip, but nobody ever wanted to. Everyone went to him
for an answer to their problems. Everybody looked up to him."
Giesken viewed Sgt. Keeran as a "father figure...a kind man that
would give you the shirt off his back." 38 years after their first
meeting, Giesken remembers the Sgt. having "salt and pepper"
hair and looking "a lot like the actor, Lee Marvin."
In late March, 1966 the 25th Infantry deployed to Vietnam on a crowded
troop carrier that was escorted on the bow and stern by nuclear powered
submarines. "It was a terrible 18 day trip and we were glad to get
off when we got to Vietnam. Glad to get off until the bullets started
flying and then we wanted back on the ship!"
The 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment was deployed to Cu Chi, northwest of
Saigon, upon their arrival "in country" on April 29, 1966.
They ran missions throughout the Tay Ninh area, Ho Bo Woods, the Black Virgin
Mountain and close to the Cambodian border.
According to military records, the 25th Infantry "Tropic Lightning"
Division was "heavily
engaged" from April, 1966 through 1969 as they fought "the toughest
battles in the war." The Medal of Honor was awarded to 22 men from
Tropic Lightning..."more than any other division in the war."
May 24, 1966 was like
every other day as the Bravo Company began another search and destroy mission.
Giesken said, "We were pretty close to base that day because we walked
out...we were not flown out." The men were moving southeast around
the edge of a deserted village with Giesken and a buddy, Bob Dauss,
"walking point" when Sgt. Keeran moved into the lead position
and began giving verbal and hand directions to his men.
Geisken said, "I wanted to tell him to come back, that he
wasn't supposed to be out there, but how could I have done that? I was
only a kid and Sgt. Keeran was our leader and the man we all looked up
to."
Suddenly a single burst of machine gun fire rang out and Sgt. Keeran
fell to the ground. The troops began firing into the buildings as
Giesken and Dauss raced across the clearing and pulled Sgt. Keeran behind a
clump of bushes.
Giesken wept openly as he recalled holding Sgt. Keeran in his arms,
with his head on his right arm, as they waited for the med-evac
helicopter. He said, "There was a medic there with us, but there
was nothing he could do. Sgt. Keeran had taken six shots across his
chest, but he didn't realize that he was dying."
It took several minutes before Giesken could continue and even then his
story was finished through his tears and apologies for crying. "We
could hear the copter coming. Sgt. Keeran said, 'Well, I don't
feel bad. I can go home and see my wife and kids.' Then he
died."
Jerry Giesken was changed forever in those minutes of cradling the
dying man who had been such an influence in his life.
He said, "When I think of Vietnam, I think of Sgt. Keeran.
When I hear a helicopter go over, I think of Sgt. Keeran.
When I see the American flag, I think of Sgt. Keeran." He
continued, "My dad died several years after I came back from
Vietnam. I didn't see how I could live without him. I couldn't
stop crying......I have cried as much over Sgt. Keeran."
John "Jack" Smith of
Pennsylvania was also a member of Bravo Company. He said,
"I was there when Willard was shot and died. We were in the same
squad (12 men) together. I was a fire team leader, but on this day, the
Platoon Leader's RTO (radio operator) was on sick call so, since I had
experience, they put me on the job. I think by some intervention it
helped protect me that day because I usually was with Sgt. Keeran."
Smith joined the Army on his 17th birthday. He said, "I had a
history to live up to. My father was one of the original "Darby's
Rangers" in WWII so therefore, his oldest son wanted to live up to Dad, I
guess." Smith began his service in Vietnam,
the day after his 18th birthday, as a helicopter door gunner for 90 days
temporary duty. He returned to Hawaii for jungle training with Tropic
Lighting.
Smith was still just 18 years old when Sgt. Keeran died. He
said, "When I heard he died, I cried like a baby, because the friendships
forged in battle can not be compared to anything on this earth." He
continued, "I had to report him killed in action and it was one of the
hardest things I had to do. It bothered me greatly that for months, we
had trained together and when were shipped to Vietnam, he only last 39 days.
In Hawaii, we talked a lot and he was like an older brother. He helped
me decide to be a fire team leader and do what I was trained to do. He
was a good man and I still miss him."