Keller, Richard, SP 5

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
I enjoyed high school ROTC and my brother Major Charles R. Keller (US Army Reserve Ret.), got me to join his National Guard unit when I turned 16. It was the 135th Medical Field Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. I guess I liked to play Soldier!!

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?

Myself and a patient watching the Dress Parade from our hospital window . 1964

I hoped to become a Medical Service Corps Officer but I fell and hit my head in Basic and developed seizures during AIT, so I couldn't be an Officer, so I became a Medic. After four and a half years in service working as a Corpsman on hospital wards I went to Vietnam. I returned with PTSD. I found it very hard working with patients for the first time.

I decided after six and a half years in the Army not to re-enlist .

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?

On a training patrol with a Combat Sergents Training Course Class . 1968

I went to 'Nam in Feb.28, 1968. We were receiving shelling about second or third night. My job was to retrieve the wounded under fire quickly, triage them, and move them to the Aid Station to be treated by a doctor. If they just needed first aid I would move them to the nearest bunker and treat them myself. After seeing so many dead & wounded I became rather fatalistic thinking I too would die or be wounded. But Thank God I made it back alright.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?

My church outside Ft. Meade , presented me this God Be With You Cake before my tour in Vietnam .

I was stationed at Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland twice and made some civilian friends so that had to be my favorite base. But my favorite overseas assignment was at 5th General Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany.

The least favorite was Pleiku, Vietnam well noted for it's heat and monsoons.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
The bravery of wounded & dying young men I served with!! As a Medic, your involved with the constant struggle with pain and death. It affects all who work with their patients the doctors, nurses and the corpsmen. I remember one brave soldier at FT. Leonard Wood, MO in

A friend in front of Ft. Leonard Wood General Hospital 1964

basic training. He was admitted to our ward with a muscular debilitating disease. It was so bad we had to put him in an old ' iron lung " that they used for Polio patients.

He was very weak but the first thing he asked for was a rubber ball to squeeze to build up his strength. He wouldn't give up ! Soon he was out of the iron lung and working hard in P. T. building up his muscles and within six months he was back in basic training. What an inspiration! In combat I was stationed at the 4th Med. Bn Aid Station where I treated men with every thing from shrapnel wounds to white phosphorous burns, malaria and jungle rot. I can't forget the brave young in pain and shock. I remember the faces of those who died.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?

Photo of me at the Combat NCO Course 4th Inf. Div. Camp Enari Pleiku RVN 1968

I was stationed at my Division Aid Station because of my seizures. So I wasn't allowed to serve in a fire base at brigade. I was put up for the Army Commendation Medal for my work as a Instructor at our Combat NCO School and my work as a IG Medical Inspector for 4th Division but they gave it to a field medic, which was okay with me.

My greatest satisfaction was seeing my patients get well.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?

4th Inf. Div. Headquarters in foreground , my 4th Bn, Aid Station on the corner across from it . 196

Of course, I'm proud of my Vietnam Medals but I'm just as proud of my Cold War Certificate. People don't realize how close to war we were in Europe. The tension was palatable, we knew that tanks and artillery were facing each other armed with tactical nuclear weapons. All that it took was one person to start a war that might have ended in a global atomic war.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?

My brother Charles Keller and Linda his wife . Charlie retired a Major in the Mo. National Guard and

There was no one person (except my brother) who made an impact on me, but the way both the nurses and doctors trained medics and with a high level of interest and comradeship. That was a great experience!

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.

Tom Lacombe patient on our medical ward . 1968

I regret not having made lasting friends in service. I averaged a new post every year so I didn't get a chance to develop close friends. My PTSD affects my memory and I can't remember names plus it has been a long time. I worked with a lot of great people. With the rotation system in Nam we didn't have time to make real close friends. But working in emergency conditions develop a very close working relationship.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?

Graduation Day Basic Training 1963

During Basic Training I was still in the Missouri Guard. Every time I went through the "Chow Line" the DI would ask us our service numbers. I would say "N G 27" and that was as far as the DI would let me get, he'd ask "What does N G stand for soldier? "And I would have to answer, "No good, Sir" Then I would have to do 50 push-ups. Boy, did I get good at push-ups And EATING FAST!!!

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I had trouble with jobs after service. I worked menial jobs as a store clerk and I worked as a hotel desk clerk and auditor. Presently I work as a phone operator and receptionist at my Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 317 in Kansas City. I am also a Board Member on their two boards.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I joined the DAV to get an increase in my benefits for my seizure disorder they helped me get an increase from 10% to 40%. I've been a member of The 4th Infantry (Ivy) Division Organization to keep in contact with the old unit and the NEW 4th I.D. Last year I joined VVA. They've been great they have helped me with my claim for PTSD.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
The PTSD I've had has caused me to be reclusive, angry and a very poor job candidate. I'd rather not say anything more!

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
Keep your butt down, protect your medic and COME HOME SAFELY! Thank you for your service!!

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

TWS and the US Army

I like TWS because I've met new friends that are like-minded. It might be Jazz or shared experience in 'Nam.

DS 2/21/17