Honor A Veteran

Albany County Honors World War II and Korean War Veteran William J. Keeler

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin and the Honor-A-Veteran Committee  commemorated World War II and Korean War veteran William J. Keeler. A ceremony was held on Monday, June 2, 2003, in the Cahill Room of the Albany County Office Building.

Keeler, a lifelong resident of Cohoes, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1943. He arrived at the Pacific Island of Palau in 1944 and served as a heavy gun crewman in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre, including Peleliu and Leyte and was discharged in 1946. Keeler then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1950 and served in the Chosin Reservoir battles in the Korean War sustaining serious injuries. He received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation for the 1st Marine Division for extraordinary heroism against enemy forces in sub-zero temperatures.

Keeler was discharged in 1952, completed his GED in 1954 and was employed at the Watervliet Arsenal. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Northeastern New York Association of the Chosin Few.

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