Willard Keith
Encyclopedia
Willard Woodward Keith, Jr. (June 13, 1920 - November 3, 1942) was a United States Marine Corps
officer who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
for his heroic actions during the World War II
Battle of Guadalcanal. Two cancelled United States Navy
destroyer escort
s and the destroyer
USS Willard Keith (DD-775)
were named in his honor.
on June 13, 1920. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on April 18, 1939 and served as an enlisted man until he received an honorable discharge
on November 3, 1940 to take an appointment as a 2nd lieutenant in the Reserves on the following day.
Keith was called to active duty
on February 20, 1941, and served "stateside" until his unit was transferred to the South Pacific in the spring of 1942 to build up for the first Allied offensive in that theater — the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Promoted to captain, Keith led Company "G," 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines
(2/5), from the initial phase of the Guadalcanal campaign. He landed with them at Tulagi
on August 7, 1942. By that autumn, the campaign on Guadalcanal
was still a hard-fought one. In an offensive aimed against Japanese artillery
positions sited beyond the Matanikau River
and within range of the important Henderson Field airstrip, the 2nd Battalion was assigned the left flank position.
Initial elements of the battalion crossed the Matanikau in rubber boats before dawn on November 3, 1942, supported effectively by dive bomber
strikes, artillery, and naval gunfire. That afternoon, Captain Keith led his company against a Japanese strong-point that was entrenched on high ground and concealed by heavy jungle grown. The defending Japanese platoon was reinforced with heavy machine gun
s. Realizing that neither mortar
nor artillery fire could reach the Japanese positions, determined to evict the Japanese, Keith initiated and led successive bayonet
and hand grenade
charges in the face of heavy fire. Although the Japanese platoon was annihilated, Capt. Keith was struck in the head by a bullet and killed instantly.
For his heroic actions, Captain Willard W. Keith, Jr. was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
for a "grim determination and aggressive devotion to duty" in keeping with the "highest traditions of the naval service
." The 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) — of which the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines was a part — received the Presidential Unit Citation
.
was named for Captain Keith, but was cancelled during construction in 1943. Another destroyer escort, USS Willard Keith (DE-314)
then was named for him, but in 1944 also was cancelled during construction. Finally, USS Willard Keith (DD-775)
, an Allen M. Sumner-class
destroyer, was named in his honor and was in commission
from 1944 to 1972.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
officer who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for his heroic actions during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Battle of Guadalcanal. Two cancelled United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
destroyer escort
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
s and the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
USS Willard Keith (DD-775)
USS Willard Keith (DD-775)
USS Willard Keith , an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, is currently the only completed ship of the United States Navy ever named for Willard Keith, a United States Marine Corps captain who died in combat during the campaign for Guadalcanal. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions...
were named in his honor.
Biography
Willard Keith was born in Berkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
on June 13, 1920. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on April 18, 1939 and served as an enlisted man until he received an honorable discharge
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
on November 3, 1940 to take an appointment as a 2nd lieutenant in the Reserves on the following day.
Keith was called to active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
on February 20, 1941, and served "stateside" until his unit was transferred to the South Pacific in the spring of 1942 to build up for the first Allied offensive in that theater — the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Promoted to captain, Keith led Company "G," 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines
2nd Battalion 5th Marines
2nd Battalion 5th Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps consisting of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. They are based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and fall under the command of the 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division...
(2/5), from the initial phase of the Guadalcanal campaign. He landed with them at Tulagi
Tulagi
Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida Island. The town of the same name on the island Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island (5.5 km by 1 km) in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida...
on August 7, 1942. By that autumn, the campaign on Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
was still a hard-fought one. In an offensive aimed against Japanese artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
positions sited beyond the Matanikau River
Matanikau River
The Matanikau River of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, is located in the northwest part of the island. During the World War II Guadalcanal campaign, several significant engagements occurred between United States and Japanese forces near the river.-References:...
and within range of the important Henderson Field airstrip, the 2nd Battalion was assigned the left flank position.
Initial elements of the battalion crossed the Matanikau in rubber boats before dawn on November 3, 1942, supported effectively by dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
strikes, artillery, and naval gunfire. That afternoon, Captain Keith led his company against a Japanese strong-point that was entrenched on high ground and concealed by heavy jungle grown. The defending Japanese platoon was reinforced with heavy machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
s. Realizing that neither mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
nor artillery fire could reach the Japanese positions, determined to evict the Japanese, Keith initiated and led successive bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
and hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
charges in the face of heavy fire. Although the Japanese platoon was annihilated, Capt. Keith was struck in the head by a bullet and killed instantly.
For his heroic actions, Captain Willard W. Keith, Jr. was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for a "grim determination and aggressive devotion to duty" in keeping with the "highest traditions of the naval service
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
." The 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) — of which the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines was a part — received the Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (US)
The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941...
.
Namesakes
The destroyer escort USS Willard Keith (DE-754)USS Willard Keith (DE-754)
The first USS Willard Keith was a United States Navy proposed during World War II but never completed.Willard Keith was laid down by the Western Pipe and Steel Company at San Pedro, California, on 14 September 1943. Her construction was cancelled on 2 October 1943 before she could be launched...
was named for Captain Keith, but was cancelled during construction in 1943. Another destroyer escort, USS Willard Keith (DE-314)
USS Willard Keith (DE-314)
The second USS Willard Keith was a United States Navy proposed during World War II but never completed.Willard Keith was laid down at Mare Island Navy Yard at Vallejo, California, on 22 January 1944. Her construction was cancelled on 13 March 1944.The name Willard Keith was reassigned to...
then was named for him, but in 1944 also was cancelled during construction. Finally, USS Willard Keith (DD-775)
USS Willard Keith (DD-775)
USS Willard Keith , an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, is currently the only completed ship of the United States Navy ever named for Willard Keith, a United States Marine Corps captain who died in combat during the campaign for Guadalcanal. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions...
, an Allen M. Sumner-class
Allen M. Sumner class destroyer
The Allen M. Sumner class was a group of 58 destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Another twelve ships were completed as destroyer minelayers...
destroyer, was named in his honor and was in commission
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
from 1944 to 1972.