Lance Corporal Joseph G. Keep, son of William and Rose Keep of 227,
Saddler/Gunner Frederick
Private William Palmer Keep of the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force was drafted under the Military Service Act 1917 on 7
May 1918 at
Arthur MacArthur, Jr. was a 7th generation descendant of John Keep of Longmeadow, grandson of Olive Keep and great-grandson of John Keep, b 29 Sept 1753, a Revolutionary War veteran.
Arthur entered the service in the American Civil War, and served at Chickamauga,
Stones River, Chattanooga, the Atlanta Campaign, and Franklin.
At Missionary Ridge, the 24th Wisconsin Infantry advanced on the
entrenched Confederate soldiers. An 18-year old First Lieutenant named Arthur MacArthur, Jr., led the unit carrying the colors.
The two men carrying the colors both fell, the first to a bayonet and the second to a cannon ball. Wounded, Arthur
seized the colors himself and raised the battle-scarred flag high, turned to his troops with the shout "On Wisconsin!" and went forward
up the ridge. At the summit, he planted the flag in the ground. The advancing soldiers saw their flag, and they rushed
forward, winning the victory at Missionary Ridge. For this, Arthur MacArthur Jr. was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
He
served in the Spanish American War in the Philippines in 1898 and retired as Commander of the Pacific Division in 1909 while the highest
ranking officer in the U. S. Army.
Arthur MacArthur, III. During the Spanish-American War, Ensign
MacArthur served aboard the steam yacht USS Vixen (PY-4) in the Battle of Santiago. He later participated in naval operations
during the Philippine-American War and the Boxer Rebellion.
MacArthur commanded submarine USS Grampus (SS-4), destroyer USS McCall (DD-28),minelayer USS San Francisco (CM-2), armored cruiser USS South Dakota (ACR-9) and light cruiser USS Chattanooga (CL-18).
For distinguished work in protecting convoys from U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic in 1918, he was awarded the Navy Cross, theDistinguished Service Medal and was promoted to Captain.
Douglas MacArthur. After serving in the Philippines in 1903-04,
he was assigned to his father’s staff in Tokyo. He served with valor in the Mexican War and was awarded medals. In World
War I (1917 -18) he served with distinction and was awarded the Silver Star (his 7th) and two Purple Hearts.
In World War II,
he was recalled to active duty as Commander of the U. S. Army Forces in the Far East as Lt. General and ultimately General of the
Army, Commander of the Southwest Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for the defense of the Philippines,
which he said he accepted in the name of the brave soldiers who served there.
Canadian Brothers in Arms World War II
Arthur Keep
Edward Keep
Robert Harry Noble Keep
Walter Keep
James Calvin Sparling
Keep
James Calvin Sparling Keep Reported Killed Twice; Arrived Home Safely
James’ service in World War II was with the Canadian Army, and his regiment was the XXII Manitoba Dragoons, 18th Armoured Car Co. His rank at demobilization was Trooper, Serial Number H-77019. He was a Staghound armoured car driver.
James was scheduled for leave, and on the day
he was to be relieved from his unit to begin said time off in Britain with his family (great aunts & uncles who resided in Cornwall),
his relief driver on the Staghound armoured car arrived several hours early. They worked out a "little deal" so that our Dad
could get an early start on his travel plans. The relief guy, name was Jerry Soanes, took over Dad's position on the sly, as Dad's
Sargent Major was his brother Walter. Walter, being a big brother, always wanted to make sure that the other troopers didn't see him
playing favourites so my Dad wanted to get away quietly!
That he did, but a few hours later, the car was destroyed by a German
artillery round. As there was no one to say anything to the contrary, James C. Keep was listed as a part of the 4 man crew who was
killed. Along with the official notice from the government, Walter even wrote a note to their father telling him how his brother
Jim had been killed. A couple of weeks later, post leave, James caught up with his regiment and said the looks he
got from the other guys were memorable!
Son & Daughter Rickey and Gaye Keep of Central/Western Canada