April 13, 2023
Marine Corps League-Miguel Keith Detachment 609 awarded scholarships to six Omaha North High School JROTC Honor Cadets during a ceremony at Omaha North High School, 4410 North 36th Street, Auditorium, Thursday, April 13, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
During the ceremony, a replica of the Detachment’s namesake, Medal of Honor recipient Marine Lance Corporal (LCpl) Miguel Keith, who attended Omaha North before enlisting in 1968, will be commissioned. Also, the cadets will receive scholarships from Wounded Warriors Family Support and brass plates engraved with their names for display in the school’s Hall of Honor.
Biography
Miguel Keith was born in San Antonio, Texas, on June 2, 1951. The family moved to Nebraska, where he attended Omaha North High School until his early departure in December 1968 at 17 years old to join the U. S. Marine Corps. Keith enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on January 21, 1969. He was discharged from the Reserves on April 30, 1969; the following day, on May 1, 1969, he enlisted in the Active Duty Marine Corps.
Lance Corporal Keith posthumously received the Medal of Honor for combat gallantry in Vietnam the morning of May 8, 1970.
While participating in combat in Quảng Ngãi Province, his platoon came under heavy attack from a numerically superior enemy. Despite being mortally wounded early in the fight, and again by a grenade as the battle progressed, he advanced on the enemy with machine gun fire, killing three of the enemy advancing on the command post and dispersing the others. He was severely wounded by the grenade during this charge, and with disregard to his wounds and loss of blood, he charged a group of 25 attackers, causing them to retreat for cover. His bravery contributed in considerable measure to the success of his platoon in routing the massing enemy soldiers, saving many lives at his own peril.
In April 2019, the Omaha Marine Corps League Detachment officially changed its name in Keith’s honor. It is proud to recognize the Nation’s future leaders participating in JROTC while preserving the memory of his service and sacrifice as described in LCpl Keith’s posthumous Medal of Honor citation.
About Wounded Warriors Family Support
Wounded Warriors Family Support is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured, or killed during combat operations. This organization is run by combat veterans for combat veterans. Rated a four-star nonprofit by Charity Navigator, Wounded Warriors Family Support aids veterans and their families in healing the wounds that medicine cannot. For more information about Wounded Warriors Family Support, visit wwfs.org.