Keith was a 1999 McHenry Illinois West High School Graduate where he was a member of the track team. A child at heart and a favorite uncle to his sisters children, he was the uncle who bought them the loudest toys possible, the uncle who sat them down at the kitchen table and poured chocolate syrup in their mouths and let them "beat him up." Keith also was a man who was considerate, and compassionate about serving his country. In 2003 he enlisted in the Army at the age of 22, following a tradition of military service by his family: both his grandfathers served in WWII and his father was a Vietnam War Veteran. He served his first tour of duty in Iraq in 2004. Keith had a met a young woman nearly 10 years earlier who shared his values and love of children. She was Tonya, a third grade teacher in northern Illinois and they married over the Christmas holiday in 2006. Keith had signed up for another tour in Iraq, and after they married, he began training at Fort Benning, Georgia. As newlyweds, they made frequent trips to in-between states for weekend get-togethers. In March of 2007, they found out they were going to be parents, a child of their own. Keith couldn't have been more happy. Assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Benning, Georgia, Keith died in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit during combat operations, three months shy of coming home and getting the chance to hold his son, who was born in November 2007. Keith was awarded the rank of Corporal from Specialist, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, which is awarded for heroic or meritorious service, all posthumously. (Biography written by Sue)
Keith was a 1999 McHenry Illinois West High School Graduate where he was a member of the track team. A child at heart and a favorite uncle to his sisters children, he was the uncle who bought them the loudest toys possible, the uncle who sat them down at the kitchen table and poured chocolate syrup in their mouths and let them "beat him up." Keith also was a man who was considerate, and compassionate about serving his country. In 2003 he enlisted in the Army at the age of 22, following a tradition of military service by his family: both his grandfathers served in WWII and his father was a Vietnam War Veteran. He served his first tour of duty in Iraq in 2004. Keith had a met a young woman nearly 10 years earlier who shared his values and love of children. She was Tonya, a third grade teacher in northern Illinois and they married over the Christmas holiday in 2006. Keith had signed up for another tour in Iraq, and after they married, he began training at Fort Benning, Georgia. As newlyweds, they made frequent trips to in-between states for weekend get-togethers. In March of 2007, they found out they were going to be parents, a child of their own. Keith couldn't have been more happy. Assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Benning, Georgia, Keith died in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit during combat operations, three months shy of coming home and getting the chance to hold his son, who was born in November 2007. Keith was awarded the rank of Corporal from Specialist, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, which is awarded for heroic or meritorious service, all posthumously. (Biography written by Sue)
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