ergeant Major John A. Keene, 80, was born on March 3, 1935 in Chelsea, MA to Richard Keene and Maria Keene, ne’e Sanchez. John passed away on February 19, 2016 at James Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida. John is survived by his two daughters Maria Gonzalez of Miami, Florida and Linda Keene of Los Angeles, California; his brother, Joseph Keene and his wife Jean of Parrish, Florida; three brothers who preceded him in death, Lawrence, Michael, and Francis Keene. He is also survived by two sisters in New Hampshire (Mary and Claire) and two sisters in the Boston area (Helen and Margaret). He is also survived by two granddaughters and one great grandson.
Military Career
John entered the Army on October 20, 1954 and retired on December 1, 1978 as Sergeant Major. John was a retired paratrooper starting his career in 1954 with the 11th Airborne Division, followed by an assignment with the 82nd All American Airborne Division. Then his first assignment with the 101st Screaming Eagles in the early 1960’s followed by an assignment to Europe with the 509th Airborne Division. In the late 1960’s John was reassigned to the 101st Airborne Division just in time to ship to Vietnam. When John returned stateside in the fall of 1969 where he was assigned to serve as jump school instructor at the Military Academy at West Point. After his tour through West Point John made another tour through Vietnam and then also in Korea. John also proudly served as a long time volunteer at James Haley VA Hospital often visiting the younger patients who have been through Iraq and Afghanistan. He was certainly a proud veteran and continued his service to them even after his official retirement. In 2009 he was named as a Distinguished Member of the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment. John was also a former Director of the local Military Order of the Purple Heart chapter in Tampa as well as a member of the Screaming Eagle Foundation.
Awards and Decorations
Among his awards and decorations Sergeant Major Keene received two Bronze Star Medals with a “V” device for valor, two Purple Hearts, two Presidential Unit Citations, one Army Service Ribbon, three Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, three Air Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, five Good Conduct Awards, two National Defense Service Medals, one Army of Occupation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with ten devices, one Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, one Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Valorous Unit Award, one Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, one Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, one Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, three Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, one Meritorious Service Award, five Army Overseas Service Ribbons, the Combat Infantry Badge, his Master Parachutist Badge, and his designation as an expert with the M-16 and the M-14.
Sergeant Major Keene received his Purple Hearts after he had been shot in the arm and then took shrapnel from a mortar blast in his arm and shoulder during his fight against the Vietnamese during the Tet Offense in 1968.
Services
A celebration of John’s life will be held at Incarnation Catholic Church in Tampa, Florida on March 1, 2016 at 11:00 am where he was a parishioner for many years. Followed by the funeral mass at Incarnation Catholic Church, a graveside service with full military honors will be held at our nations most hallowed grounds, Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Purple Heart Foundation.
Friends and family are invited to share a memory and sign his guestbook below.
We love and miss you johnny.
Gladys and I were so sad to hear of John’s passing. He always seem to be his happiest when participating in activities with his fellow Veterans and visiting them in the hospital. He will be missed greatly.
I spent a summer with Johnny and his family at West Point when they were there. I have very found memories of those months and many years later I joined the Army , in part because of those found memories. Interesting that I too followed into the Infantry. RIP Uncle Johnny. My Flag will be lowered to half Staff for you.
The fight is over the battle completed. Your Lord and Savior has taking you up on eagles wings. It was an honor to have known you my dear friend in Christ .You served your country well.You have show me the world from within your memories, I will always treasure the friendship we had Chuck and I will miss you deeply Your faith you maintain to the bitter end ,rest now till we meet again at the Resurrection
It is an honor for us to handle the burial and military honors for Sergeant Major Keene. Only 1% of all enlisted soldiers attain the rank of Sergeant Major. The star between the chevrons means he was a great leader. He will rest in honored glory at Arlington. Thank you Sergeant Major for your service to our great nation.
Jim Rudolph, President
Veterans Funeral Care
“CURRAHEE” MY DEAR OLD FRIEND, YOUR “SISSETON SOUTH DAKOTA NATIVE AMERICAN SIOUX AIRBORNE FRIEND” FROM THE 101’ST, E-Co. 1/506 AIRBORNE INFANTRY, FROM FT. CAMPBELL KY. NOV. 1967 TO PHOUC VINH SOUTH VIET NAM (FOR) THE “TET-1968”.