

Rank
and organization:
Sergeant, U.S. Army,
Company A, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th
Infantry Division. Place and date: Ap Bac Zone,
Republic of
Vietnam, 2 May 1967. Entered service at: Chicago,
Ill. Born: 25 February 1947, Rockford,
Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sweeping through an area where an enemy
ambush had occurred earlier, Sgt. Keller’s unit suddenly came under intense
automatic weapons and small-arms fire from a number of enemy bunkers and
numerous snipers in nearby trees. Sgt.
Keller quickly moved to a position where he could fire at a bunker from which
automatic fire was received, killing 1 Viet Cong who attempted to escape. Leaping to the top of a dike, he and a
comrade charged the enemy bunkers, dangerously exposing themselves to the enemy
fire. Armed with a light machinegun,
Sgt. Keller and his comrade began a systematic assault on the enemy bunkers. While Sgt. Keller neutralized the fire from
the first bunker with his machinegun, the other soldier threw in a handgrenade killing its occupant. Then he and the other soldier charged a
second bunker, killing its occupant. A
third bunker contained an automatic rifleman who had pinned down much of the
friendly platoon. Again, with utter
disregard for the fire directed to them, the 2 men charged, killing the enemy
within. Continuing their attack, Sgt.
Keller and his comrade assaulted 4 more bunkers, killing the enemy within. During their furious assault, Sgt. Keller and
his comrade had been almost continuously exposed to intense sniper fire as the
enemy desperately sought to stop their attack.
The ferocity of their assault had carried the soldiers beyond the line
of bunkers into the treeline, forcing snipers to
flee. The 2 men gave immediate chase,
driving the enemy away from the friendly unit.
When his ammunition was exhausted, Sgt. Keller returned to the platoon
to assist in the evacuation of the wounded.
The 2-man assault had driven an enemy platoon from a well prepared
position, accounted for numerous enemy dead, and prevented further friendly
casualties. Sgt. Keller’s selfless
heroism and indomitable fighting spirit saved the lives of many of his comrades
and inflicted serious damage on the enemy.
His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military
service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.