Editorial: Keeble finally receives top honor

Friday, March 7, 2008  

"It's hard for most of us to put ourselves in the boots of Master Sgt. Woodrow Keeble.

Most of us don't possess the raw courage, the willingness to sacrifice and relentless determination to accomplish what he did in a few hours during a single battle in the Korean War in 1951.

Wounded, he climbed up a hill to help free comrades from heavy machine gun fire. He killed nine enemy soldiers in the bunkers, then seven more riflemen while taking several hits himself.

This hero - a label he will forever wear with the full depth of that word's meaning - received the highest honor his country can bestow. Fifty-six years after his bravery that October day and 25 years after his death, it was richly deserved.

It also was overdue. Keeble's family and his tribe waited too long for this award. But ultimately, all the senators from the Dakotas took up his cause.

And though the odds at times seemed long, years of effort were finally rewarded Monday in a ceremony in Washington, D.C."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Soldier's medal long overdue (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 3/7)

Relevant Documents:
Text: President Bush's Remarks | Video | Audio

Relevant Links:
National Native American Veterans Association - http://www.nnava.org

Related Stories:
Editorial: Long overdue honor for Woody Keeble (3/4)
Editorial: Honoring Woody Keeble, a Sioux warrior (3/3)
Opinion: Keeble leaves legacy of honor and duty (2/29)
Sen. Dorgan: An honor for Woodrow Wilson Keeble (2/27)
Editorial: Long overdue honor for Master Sgt. Keeble (2/26)
Late Dakota veteran to receive Medal of Honor (2/22)
Late Dakota veteran closer to Medal of Honor (12/11)
Bush urged to award medal to Dakota veteran (8/16)
Medal of Honor cleared for Native veteran (5/29)
Bill with medal for Native soldier sent to Bush (04/27)
House passes bill with medal for Native veteran (4/26)
Medal of Honor nears for Sisseton-Wahpeton soldier (4/24)
Column: Medal of Honor for Sisseton-Wahpeton vet (03/30)
Bill to award medal to Sisseton-Wahpeton vet (3/28)
Opinion: Sisseton-Wahpeton vet deserved honor (03/12)
Yellow Bird: Woody Keeble a true American hero (03/05)
Viewpoint: Overdue honor for Sisseton-Wahpeton vet (3/2)
Interview: Woody Keeble, a hero of two wars (2/26)
Editorial: Medal of Honor for Sioux veteran (06/14)
Native veteran recommended for Medal of Honor (06/01)
Native veteran to receive replacement medals (5/29)
Sen. Johnson: Long overdue honor for Native soldier (04/28)
Medal of Honor sought for Sisseton-Wahpeton vet (02/28)