Veteran may get Medal of Honor

In this time of conflict that the nation is engaged in, it’s totally appropriate to recall and recognize, albeit tardily, acts of exceptional heroism from past conflicts. This is about one of these heroes who have passed their torch to us. May we always prove worthy of their deeds and sacrifice.

The American soldiers were pinned down at the bottom of a mountain by heavy machine gun fire when Master Sgt. Woodrow Keeble began to advance toward the enemy bunkers. One by one, the 34-year-old took out each of the three heavily fortified bunkers on his own, armed with a rifle and a few hand grenades.

Before he was done, he would be hit five times by shrapnel and bullets in his chest, legs and arms. Still, he refused to be evacuated until his fellow U.S. Army soldiers reached the top of the mountain and set up a defensive perimeter to resist a counterattack by the Chinese.

Medal of Honor paperwork on this was submitted – and lost – twice. There is currently a third attempt underway to honor this latter-day Sioux warrior. If there’s any justice, he will get it this time, albeit posthumously. It’s little enough we can do.

The country already has recognized many of Keeble’s acts of valor, presenting him with the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross, among other awards. But those who knew him say he deserves one last medal, even if it is in death. “He was a soldier for this country his whole life,” Hawkins said. “This is long overdue.”

Indeed.