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LT DONALD M. KEITH
FORWARD OBSERVER, B-1-35
8/16/38 - 9/10/24
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Lt Donald M. Keith was laid to rest with
full military honors at West Tennessee State Cemetery on 7Oct24.
His widow, Barb Keith, is pictured above receiving the flag for his remains.
TRIBUTES TO LT DON KEITH: Lt Dennis Dauphin
First and foremost, Don loved the military and serving his country. He was the most prolific of contributors to The Mighty Ninth website and his "War Stories" should be mandatory reading for anyone who served with us in Vietnam. Don served two (2) tours in Vietnam. The first tour was with our 2/9th Field Artillery. Don was a Warrior; he was "built" to fight and save the lives of countless Infantrymen of Company B, 1st Bn of the 35th Regiment. The grunts attending their annual 35th Regiment reunion have shaken his hand many times and thanked him for his service. The usual "tour of duty" for a Forward Observer was six (6) months. Then, you were assigned to other duties out of the forward combat areas. Nope! Not for Don! Every time a replacement FO was sent out, something went wrong and Don had to stay on duty where he was. In one case, his "New FO" was in the process of replacing him when he stepped on a booby trap and was killed. In total, Don spent an amazing eleven (11) months in the field as a Forward Observer. If you asked Don about that, he would say, "Oh, I didn't mind it."
Space does not allow for all the medals and commendations that were awarded to Don. These include a Silver Star with oak clusters and the Purple Heart for a shrapnel wound. He was a modest hero...a true friend, and a high spirit. Don loved to "taunt" the pompous and had no tolerance for injustice. But, most of all, he was my friend.
Lt Dennis L Dauphin,
FO for A/2/35
TRIBUTES TO LT DON KEITH: Lt Mike Kurtgis
I met Don through Dennis Dauphin at the Cacti 35 Regt Association reunions. He was the type of fellow who always had a good story to tell and I smile now thinking of him as I did then. Over the years as I got to know him he was an adventurer who thoroughly enjoyed life and his pursuits. Be they flying, antiques, or just advanced studies he enjoyed the journey and always had a humorous story to tell. As a Brother-in-Arms, his experiences in Vietnam were imminently relatable as we both were Artillery Forward Observers and Aerial Observers. His stories invariably made me smile even though some were of a serious nature, but if you read between the lines, easy for someone who was there, he was a true Hero, even though, through his self deprecation, he tried to make you think otherwise. I shall miss him I wish I had known him longer but his memory will always be with me. Rest in Peace my Brother, your memory keeps a smile on my face.
Lt
Michael P. Kurtgis
FO & Air Observer
