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| Pfc. Gerald Keys served in the 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion as did the men in this photo. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108752272/gerald-j-keys https://www.pinterest.com/pin/335377503487017133/?lp=true |
Gerald J. Keys never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on November 14, 1918 in Montana. His parents Lewis and Elizabeth were also both born in Montana. His father worked as a farmer. He died in 1921 after a brief illness. Gerald was an only child. His mother died in 1939 after a long illness. Gerald completed four years of high school and found work as a dairy farmhand. The 1940 census showed him living on his own. He attended further schooling at Carroll College.
He was drafted into the army on March 16, 1942. He became a private first class in Company C, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Pfc. Keys was trained to use the towed M5 3" anti-tank gun. Pfc. Keys' company arrived on Utah Beach on June 28, 1944. It was given the assignment of providing indirect fire support for infantry trying to take St. Lo. Pfc. Keys was killed in action on July 9, 1944 near Foret de Mont-Castre in Normandy. Sixty-nine years later one of his dog tags was unearthed near where he died.
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| https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108752272/gerald-j-keys |
His grave is at Forestvale Cemetery in Helena, Montana.
Last year on this date I profiled B-24 bombardier Donald Schwerin. You can read about Donald here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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