Medal of Honor

Rapid City Journal:

Secretary of the Army Francis Harvey is recommending that the nation’s highest commendation be given to North Dakota’s most decorated veteran.

If the medal of honor is awarded to the late Woodrow Wilson Keeble, he would be the first Sioux Indian to receive it, his family says.

Keeble was born in Waubay, S.D., and was a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe.

Harvey said in a letter to Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., Wednesday that he will recommend the medal be awarded to Keeble, who died in 1982.

“After giving this request my careful and personal consideration, it is my recommendation that the award of the Medal of Honor is the appropriate award to recognize Master Sergeant Woodrow W. Keeble’s gallant acts,” Harvey said in the letter. “This brave soldier clearly distinguished himself though his courageous actions.”

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and President Bush still must approve the medal.

“What we’ve seen in the past is when the secretary (of the Army) makes a recommendation, that it then flows quite smoothly,” said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.