Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

Far East Air Forces

Awarded on:

July 30th, 1945

Citation:
"For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy at Biak Island, Netherlands New Guinea, on 27 May 1944. Sergeant Keller was a member of a fighter control unit which landed at Biak on the day it was invaded, to set up air-ground communications for air warning and fighter control. The group dug in on a coral knoll which was vulnerable to enemy infiltration since it was outside the American perimeter. At midnight, while Sergeant Keller, guarding radio equipment, was about a hundred yards in front of the rest of the detachment, a large Japanese patrol started to infiltrate into the area. First to detect the presence of the enemy, he immediately began throwing hand grenades among them, and caused them to disperce. The explosion of the grenades warned the rest of the detachment, and thereby saved many lives and prevented valuable equipment from falling into the hands of the enemy. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Keller reflect great credit upon himself and the military service."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

As oak leaf cluster.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

As oak leaf cluster.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

As oak leaf cluster.