This group of medals to James Edward Keeler spans WW2 and Korean War service. One medal bar includes his named (official pantograph printing) Good Conduct Medal with 2 stars, American Defense and Asiatic Pacific campaign medals. The second bar includes his WW2 Victory Medal, United States Navy Occupation Medal, China Service and Korean Service medals.
Jamesw Keeler enlisted in the Navy in Los Angeles February 24, 1941. He was briefly assigned to the USS Hull, DD-350 and then transferred to the USS Rigel, AD-13 in September, 1941. The Rigel was undergoing repairs at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and was damaged during the Japanese attack. He was transferred July 1, 1942 to a land base in New Zealand. He is shown briefly on the USS American Legion in February, 1943; thence to the USS Whitney, APA-17, November, 1943 through July 27, 1944. He was transferred to the west coast for a new construction assignment. The Ancestry muster rolls do not have a record of him beyond that date.
Spring 2022 sold to a collector.
