George Keeney
Vietnam veteran who received medal 57 years after combat ended worked at Western Maryland College for 3 decades
George Thomas Keeney, a Vietnam War veteran who was recently celebrated by Carroll County officials for finally receiving a long-delayed military combat medal, died at his New Windsor home Aug. 18. He was 76.
Mr. Keeney’s death, which was due to heart failure and prostate cancer, came about two months after he received an Air Medal, a military decoration awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. He was originally due to get the award from the U.S. Army in November 1966.
Mr. Keeney served in the Army for six years and was sent to Vietnam in 1966 for two years. He was also in the Army Reserve and an Army sergeant E5 with the 229th Aviation Battalion when he was discharged.
He and his family said his battle with cancer and heart failure was a byproduct of his time as a helicopter crew chief, spreading the toxic chemical herbicide Agent Orange on the fields and jungles of Vietnam.
On June 19, Mr. Keeney was honored by state Sen. Justin Ready, who represents both Carroll and Frederick counties, and Carroll County Commissioner Tom Gordon III during a ceremony in Mr. Keeney’s living room. Jason R. Sidock, executive director of the Carroll County Veterans Independence Project, a nonprofit organization that provides services to veterans, also attended and presented a coin with a “Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran” message to Mr. Keeney.
“Getting the opportunity to meet and be part of helping Mr. Keeney with receiving his much-deserved Air Medal from his service in Vietnam has been something I will never forget,” Mr. Sidock said. “We have not been short on wars and conflicts, and as a nation, we must never forget those who came before us in the defense of this great nation. Mr. Keeney is a true hero for his exemplar service in Vietnam.”
The Air Medal is for the 25 aerial missions Mr. Keeney participated in over the Republic
of Vietnam from July 29 to Aug. 9, 1966. The medal was established by an executive order signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 11, 1942.
Mr. Keeney was born to the late Norman Dorsey Keeney and Virgie Delaphine Baugher Keeney.
He was the husband of the late Grace Kathleen Baumgardner Keeney for years.
Mr. Gordon said he was saddened to learn of Mr. Keeney’s death.
“I was honored to attend the visitation of this American hero,” Mr. Gordon said. “Meeting with George and being part of the presentation of his Air Medal after a 57-year delay was one of the proudest and most rewarding moments of my time as commissioner. To see his joy and be part of the long-awaited celebration for a well-deserved honor was [more] heartwarming and inspiring than I could ever articulate.”
Mr. Keeney worked at Western Maryland College for more than 30 years, retiring at the age of 55. He loved tinkering with lawn mowers, hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.
Belinda Eaton said her dad died peacefully at home, surrounded by his daughters.
“He was the best dad in the world,” she said. “All us girls were around his bed, and he would not go until he knew us girls would take care of each other, and we told him we would.”
Ms. Eaton said her dad was proud to have served his country, but because he did not receive his Air Medal 57 years ago, he thought his time in Vietnam didn’t matter to the Army. The day he finally received the medal is something the family says they will never forget.
“The smile on his face meant the most to us girls,” she said. “He thought he didn’t matter, and then he did.”
Graveside services were held at St. James Cemetery in Carroll County on Aug. 24.
Survivors include daughters Belinda Eaton and her husband, Michael, of Westminster; Pamela Hartwell and her husband, Kenneth, of Cumberland; Ann Martin and partner Mike Mussenden of Crownsville; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Keeney was preceded in death by a daughter, Christina Kay Keeney; brothers William, Norman, Oscar, Earl “Jim” and John; and sisters Helen, Lillian, Rosey and Nellie.