Miguel Keith | |
Birth Date: | 2 June 1951 |
Birth Place: | San Antonio, Texas |
Death Place: | Quảng Ngãi Province, South Vietnam |
Placeofburial: | Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska |
Placeofburial Label: | Place of burial |
Medal: | Moh right.gif |
Medal Alt: | A light blue neck ribbon with a gold star shaped medallion hanging from it. The ribbon is similar in shape to a bow tie with 13 white stars in the center of the ribbon. |
Allegiance: | United States of America |
Serviceyears: | 1969–1970 |
Rank: | Lance Corporal |
Unit: | 1st Combined Action Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force |
Battles: | Vietnam War |
Awards: | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Miguel Keith (June 2, 1951 – May 8, 1970) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the United States's highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in May 1970. Despite being severely wounded, he advanced on enemy attackers, allowing his platoon to rout the attack of a numerically superior enemy force.
Miguel Keith, a Mexican-American, was born on June 2, 1951, in San Antonio, Texas. He left North High School in Omaha, Nebraska in December 1968, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at Omaha on January 21, 1969. He was discharged from the Reserves on April 30, 1969, and the following day, on May 1, 1969, he enlisted in the regular Marine Corps.
Ordered to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, on May 2, 1969, for recruit training, he completed training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion on July 17, 1969. He was transferred to the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, for individual combat training with Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment. On August 1, 1969, he was promoted to the rank of Private First Class.
Upon completion of individual combat training on September 18, 1969, he received orders to the Far East. On November 6, 1969, he arrived in the Republic of Vietnam and was assigned as a rifleman with the 1st Combined Action Group, III Marine Amphibious Force. On April 1, 1970, he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
While participating in combat in Quảng Ngãi Province on May 8, 1970, he was mortally wounded in the action for which he received the Medal of Honor. When his platoon was under heavy attack from a numerically superior enemy, Keith was seriously wounded. Despite his wounds, he advanced on the enemy with machine gun fire, killing three of the enemy advancing on the command post and dispersing the others. He was severely wounded by a grenade during this charge. In spite of his wounds and loss of blood, he charged a group of 25 attackers, causing them to retreat for cover. He was mortally wounded by enemy fire. His actions contributed significantly to his platoon's success in routing the enemy.
Lance Corporal Keith was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska.[1] [2]
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 |