| Obit For | Pvt. Fernando Guy Keithley |
|---|---|
| Headline | PHILLIPPINES ARMY CAMP NAMED FOR PVT. GUY KEITHLY McDowell Man’s Heroic Action Made Early Military History |
| Text | Charley Mathis, well known and lifelong resident of the McDowell community, recently forward a clipping to the Republican office from the National Tribune, at Washington, D.C. military newspaper. The National Tribune carried a story by a Dallas, Texas, man telling of Pvt. Guy Keithley, who sailed with his regiment, the 28th Infantry in 1901 for the Philippines. There, on November 13, 1903 Keithly died a heroic soldier's death defending an outpost on Marahui Island, which late gained considerable fame in World War II. Keithley was a classmate of Mr. Mathis and his brother, Perry Keithly, lived in Monett for many years. The newspaper article states, "Young Keithley, who was barely 21 years of age at the time of his death, was a typical American and a typical American solder. He was born in the small town of McDowell, in Barry County, in the lead and zinc mining section of the State. He attended the public schools of his town, and he and another young fellow, Luther B. Walker decided to enlist in the Army for Philippine service. Two of Keithley's brothers served in the Rough Riders with Col Theodore Roosevelt, but Fernando was much to young to get in uniform at that time and when he did enlist was barely old enough to convince a recruiting sergeant that he was that old, though he was rather large for his age. Walker, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Dave Walker of the McDowell community, now lives in Sunnyside, Washington, and is one of the Republican 's most faithful subscribers. The article continues, "Keithley arrived in the Phillips in December 1901. His company was given a hard assignment to begin with cleaning up and building a military prison on Malaga Island, in Laguna Bay, a short distance from Manila. After they got the island cleared up and had the prison built, they were ordered to Iligan, Mindanao, to join other units of the regiment in building the military road former Iligan to Lake Lanao This was in hostile Moro country and the Moros not only objected to the road being build, but objected to the presence of the Americans." After the road had been completed, eight companies of the 28th left their camps for a campaign against hostile Moros, however Cos. G. and H. were left behind to guard the camp at Marahui and the military road. Guard duty was rather tough as in addition to the regular guard posts of Marahui, they had two outposts to defend. On Nov. 12, 1903, less than a month before the regiment was scheduled to embark for the U.S. Keithley and two others were detailed for guard duty and assigned to Outpost No. 2 which was more than a mile from the camp at Marahui." The article continues to relate how shortly after midnight a large band of Moros, armed mostly with bolos, spears, krisses and heavy two-handed swords several feet long, slipped into the outpost and cut the ropes of the tent, which fell in on the other members of the guard and they were quickly hacked to pieces and Pvt. Keithley was left alone to battle the swarm of Moros in the darkness. He tried to fight his way back toward his camp, shooting and reloading and shooting again and again, also fighting with bayonet. The attack was costly for the Moros as 22 of them were found dead at the outpost and along the trail back toward the camp. "As soon as the shooting started at the outpost, the camp was alerted and the call to arms was sounded by Musician Luther B. Walker, who was also on guard and who had enlisted with Keithley. A detail from the guard was rushed down the trail toward the outpost. They met Pvt. Keithley a short distance from the outpost. The Moros who had not already been killed by Keithley had vanished into the darkness." Pvt. Keithley died the next day. The Army camp, then known as Camp Marahui, was renamed by the order of the War Department, Camp Keithley. It is now known as Fort Keithley and the Philippine government still maintains an army post there. This was he first Army Post in the history of the United States that was named for an enlisted man. Also, at Fort Carson, Colo., where the 28th Inf. is now stationed, there is a large trophy room named Keithley Hall with a large painting of Pvt. Keithley. The Texan writes the following about Pvt. Keithley: "Since Nov. 13, 1903, many brave men have died heroic deaths in the uniform of the 28th Inf., and the regiment is now one of the most famous in the Army, but few, if any, have surpassed the record made by Pvt. Fernando Guy Keithley, who died defending his country when the regiment was young." An annual reunion of the 28th Infantry Association, composed exclusively of men who first formed the regiment in 1901, held each year and is being held this year in Louisville, September 1 through 5. Musician Luther B. Walker, schoolmate and longtime friend of Pvt. Keithley, will be present for the meeting. Research Note: He was reburied at Arlington National Cemetery. More information about Pvt. Keithley and also a photo - http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/gfkeithley.htm |
| Newspaper or Funeral Home | Cassville Republican |
| Date | Sept. 13, 1956 |
| Death Cert Link | - |
| Resource | - |
| Submitted by | Barbara Erwin |
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