KEITH, MIGUEL
Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Combined Action Platoon 1-3-2, III Marine Amphibious Force
Place: Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam
KEITH, MIGUEL
Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Combined Action
Platoon 1-3-2, III Marine Amphibious Force
Place: Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam
Date: 8 May 1970
Entered service at: Omaha, Nebraska
Born: 2 June 1951, San Antonio, Texas
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.
During the early morning L/Cpl. 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 5 of the enemy soldiers approaching the command post, he rushed forward, firing as he advanced. He succeeded in disposing of 3 of the attackers and in dispersing the remaining 2. At this point, a grenade detonated near L/Cpl. 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 25 enemy soldiers who were massing to attack. The vigor of his assault and his well placed fire eliminated 4 of the enemy soldiers 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, L/Cpl. 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 U.S. Naval Service.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
--- General / Personal ---
Last name: KEITH
First name: MIGUEL
Home of Record (official): OMAHA
State (official): NE
Date of Birth: Saturday, June 2, 1951
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single
--- Military ---
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: LCPL
Serial Number: 456844128
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E3
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 0331
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Thursday, November 6, 1969
Date of Casualty: Friday, May 8, 1970
Age at time of loss: 18
Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died
Reason: Multiple fragmentation wounds (Ground casualty)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Quang Ngai
The Wall: Panel 11W - Row 132
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Back to: Medal Of Honor Recipients