Finding Aid for the David U. Keenen Second World War correspondence 2017.163.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
2/14/2019
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: David U. Keenen Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Keenen, David Umble, Technical Sergeant, 1923-2012
source:
Buehrle, Lisa
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.163.w.r
Physical Description:
.01 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date: 1945 July 28
Abstract: This collection contains one correspondence from Staff Sergeant David U. Keenen, USA to his wife Phyllis during the Second
World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 24
Container: 12
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the family of David U. Keenen, via Lisa Buehrle.
Technical Sergeant David Umble "Dick" Keene, United States Army (10/14/1923 - 11/7/2012) was born in West Liberty, Ohio to
Clarence and Elizabeth Keenen. Information that follows comes from the donor:
"He married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Buck, on August 1, 1942, and remained happily married to her for 70 years
until his death at the age of 89 on November 7, 2012. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in January of 1943 and trained at
Camp Hale in Colorado and was stationed with the 616th Field Artillery Battery and the 10th Mountain Division Ski Troop in
Italy. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster in April 1945 for Valor and Meritorious Service in combat
and received an EAME Ribbon with two Bronze Service Stars.
After the war, Dick returned home to DeGraff, Ohio, not only to his wife but to a baby daughter that he had never seen. His
daughter, [donor's] mother, Sharon, was born December 31, 1943. He did not meet her until she was a year and a half old. He
began working as a machinist and retired from Monarch Machine and Tool Co. in Sidney, Ohio. He was also a 32nd degree Mason.
He and my grandmother lived most of their lives in DeGraff and later in life lived in Urbana and Reynoldsburg, Ohio. His beloved
wife died on August 10, 2016 at the age of 91.
David Keenen is survived by his daughter, Sharon Rohl; son, Bruce (Pam) Keenen; grandchildren Kimberly Favinger, Lisa (Michael)
Buehrle, Sarah Keenen, Diane (Drew) Kuzmickas; great grandchildren Meaghan (Rob) Fowler, Kristin (Wayne) Rutherford, Gabrielle,
Trevor and Abigail.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], David U. Keenen Second World War correspondence (2017.163.w.r), Center for
American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains correspondence from SSgt. David U. Keenen, USA to his wife Phyllis during the Second World War. Also
included is a biographical sheet from the donor and a photocopied picture of SSgt. Keenen in uniform.
The letter was written from Florence, Italy and addressed to his wife and daughter, whom he had yet to meet, and he discusses
coming home soon though he will have narrowly missed their anniversary. He wants to stay in a hotel in Colorado and go on
outings with his wife, arranging that one of his parents will be able to watch their daughter, Sharon. He mentions also a
Battalion Sergeant Major Noell whom he met at the Red Cross in Elgin, Texas before shipping out.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
Buehrle, Lisa