KEITH A. CAMPBELL, Specialist Four (E4), United States Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). Date action: 8 February 1967. Theater: Republic of Vietnam. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Specialist Four Campbell distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 February 1967 while serving with elements of the 503d Infantry assaulting a Viet Cong bunker complex. During the initial engagement, the lead company had suffered numerous casualties, including the medical personnel. Specialist Campbell volunteered to assist in treating the wounded, and dauntlessly moved up to the front line. Exposing himself to the intense hostile fire, he began to administer aid to the wounded soldiers. Discovering that one casualty lay fifty meters in front of the friendly lines and next to an insurgent bunker, Specialist Campbell called for covering fire as he maneuvered forward. Disregarding the extreme dangers, he fearlessly ran through a hail of bullets and exploding grenades, but was forced to take cover behind a low mound of dirt. From this position, he killed a Viet Cong sniper who was firing on him from a tree. Undeterred from his mission, Specialist Campbell then crawled the last twenty meters to the stricken man. Dragging the soldier to the cover of a nearby tree, he started to administer first aid. As he fearlessly protected the man from further hostile fire, Specialist Campbell was mortally wounded. His unimpeachable valor and selfless sacrifice against insurmountable odds succeeded in saving a fellow soldier’s life. Specialist Four Campbell’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

A native of the Washington, DC area, SP4 Campbell is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/kacampbell.htm including some poetry written by his mother, Mrs. Ester B. Gates, a Life Member of the Legion of Valor.

Esther Gates, Associate Member passed on 12 March 2018. Though she had been bedridden the last few years, Esther was an active member of the San Antonio chapter for a long time. Many of you may remember the chapter luncheons she hosted at The Towers along with her late husband, BG Mahlon (Ink) Gates USA Retired. Esther was the mother of Keith A. Campbell DSC (posthumous Vietnam), for whom the Fort Sam Houston base library is named. She was very proud to be a member of the LOV and most grateful to our chapter for spearheading the effort to honor her son.