Korean War
| Service # | 491960 |
|---|---|
| Rank | Lieutenant Junior Grade U.S. Navy |
| Date of Death | September 16 1951 |
Combat Action Ribbon (Navy)
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Lieutenant Junior Grade Keller was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Notes
Lieutenant Junior Grade Keller was the pilot of a F2H Banshee fighter with Fighter Squadron 172 aboard the carrier USS ESSEX (CV-9). On September 16, 1951 his aircraft was struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire, damaging its tail section. When he tried to land on the aircraft carrier, the tail hook could not engage and the aircraft bounced over the barriers, struck other aircraft and burst into flames, killing six crewmen. To prevent major damage he and his aircraft were pushed overboard and his remains were never recovered.