William E. Keithley (1925-1944)

PictureWilliam “Bill” Ellsworth Keithley
In 2002, the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society was given a collection of documents, photographs and memorabilia that document a four-year span of the life events and accomplishments of a young man from Mount Horeb—William “Bill” E. Keithley. In this collection are items that document his too-short military career, including letters Bill wrote to his parents while in the US Marine Corps during World War II.
Born September 13, 1925, in Indiana to Mabel P. and Mills J. Keithley, Bill and his parents later lived in Brodhead before moving to Mount Horeb about 1940, just in time for William to start his freshman year at Mount Horeb High School. William was actively involved in high school—he was president of his junior class, king of the junior prom and played basketball, baseball and football.

Bill enlisted in the US Marine Corps as a private first class in June of 1943 and was called to active duty in August of that year. His first letter to his parents was written as he rode the train across America on his way to Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. Over the following year, he wrote another 70 letters home to his parents discussing a wide range of subjects, from Wisconsin football to his meals in the mess hall.

After completing his training, Bill was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division Ordnance Company. The 3rd Marine Division fought throughout the Pacific and was eventually involved in the Battle of Guam. On the 24th of July, 1944, as the Marines fought to take the island of Guam back from the occupying Japanese forces, Bill Keithley was killed as he carried ammunition from the beach to an ordnance depot. The last letter Bill sent home to his parents was dated July 15, 1944.
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The donation of this material by Bill’s aunt, Katherine Moore of Janesville, will ensure that, despite his having no spouse, siblings or descendants, William “Bill” Keithley will remain a part of our local history.

Below are links to the PDF's of his letters home.
William “Bill” Ellsworth Keithley
US Marine Corps Timeline
  • Enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on June 26, 1943
  • Called to active duty in August of 1943
  • First letter to parents was dated August 27, 1943 as he was on the train heading to California
  • Letter to home dated September 1, 1943, has “USMC, Platoon #707, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, CA” on letterhead
  • USMC Muster Rolls (October 1 to 31, 1943) show him to be in the Seventh Recruit Battalion, Training Regiment, RDEP, MCB, San Diego, California
  • Letter to home dated October 28, 1943, has “USMC, Rancho Santa Margarita, Camp Joseph Pendleton” (Oceanside, CA)
  • A newspaper clipping noted he went overseas on December 29, 1943
  • USMC Muster Rolls (January 1 to 31, 1944) show him to be with USMC, Corps Replacement Battalion, Transient Center, IMAC, Fleet Marine Forces (FMF)
  • On letter to home dated January 27, 1944, mentioned that he arrived safely in the South Pacific and wasn’t seasick at all. New address shows Pfc. W.E. Keithley, 35th Repl. Engn. BN, Co. C., % Fleet Marine Force PO, San Francisco, CA. At this point they were not allowed to say exactly where they were (USN Censors read letters), thus the FMF Post Office.
  • USMC Muster Rolls (April 1 to April 30, 1944) show him to be with USMC, Ordnance Company (OrdCo), 3rd Service Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Forces (FMF), “In the Field”
  • USMC Muster Rolls (July 1 to July 31, 1944) show him to be with USMC, Ordnance Company (OrdCo), 3rd Service Battalion, Service Troops (SerTrs), 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Forces (FMF), “In the Field”
  • USMC Muster Roll information regarding his location in July 1944 prior to being KIA on July 21st: July 1st to 16th he was aboard the USS Elmore at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, a staging area for the Battle of Guam.
  • July 17th, sailed.
  • July 18th -20th, in-route to Guam.
  • July 21st, arrived and disembarked at Guam, M.I. and participated in the initial attack and landing against an organized enemy (on temporary duty with the 9th Marine, 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Forces)
  • Bill was “Killed in Action” (KIA) on July 21, 1944, on the first day of the Battle of Guam
  • In a letter to his mother from Major General G.B. Erskine, USMC dated August 15, 1945, regarding the naming of an Ordnance Company Road on Guam in his memory stated: “Private First Class Keithley was performing duty with the Ammunition Section of the Ordnance Company until the time of his death. On 21 July, 1944, and during the invasion of Guam, M.I., while carrying a clover leaf of ammunition from the beach across the road where an ammunition dump was being established, an enemy shell exploded killing him instantly.”
  • A road on the Ordnance Company Area on the island of Guam was named in honor of William Keithley in 1945
  • Initial burial was at the Army, Navy and Marine Corps Cemetery #3, Guam
  • His final resting place is in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii
Picture
Wisconsin State Journal Madison, WI 18 Aug 1944
Below are links to PDF's of the original letters.
1943 (1943 Letter Transcriptions)
1944 (1944 Letter Transcriptions)