1984-85 American Legion Commander
Below are 2 military write-ups about Keith...
The first one was what we used in the Veterans' section of the 2006 Manning Quasqui history book.
The second write-up shows when more details were added to Keith's story...at my request.
For the Veterans' section in the 2006 book we didn't have extra room for a detailed write-up, and only 1 picture could be used - BUT since
the Manning Veterans' history book will have about 1 page available for each individual Veteran we want to include more pictures and information about
each Veteran - EVEN if there was a history written for the Quasqui book we want to include that story but with more details in the future Manning Veterans' book.
2006 updated military history about Keith for the future Manning Veterans' history book project
RICHARD KEITH KELDERMAN
Keith Kelderman and his brother Ted Kelderman were sworn into the U.S. Coast Guard at the recruiting station in Omaha, Nebraska, in August of 1957
for four years of Active Duty. They went to basic training in the Coast Guard Receiving Station in Cape May, New Jersey, for twelve weeks. Upon completion of basic training
they were assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters at Honolulu, Hawaii, at "Sand Island" where they served on the U.S. Coast Guard cutter "Bering Strait."
In December 1957, they went on their first cruise on the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Japan. They were gone for six months at a time to a certain location between
Hawaii and Japan, and covered roughly a hundred mile radius area. They patrolled this area to obtain weather data and for furnishing rescue facilities on trans-oceanic air routes.
The Kelderman brothers served in this area for about two and half months before going into Yokosuka, Japan, for about three weeks for fuel, repairs, and supplies.
Then they went back out to the appointed location for another three months before going back to Hawaii for six months and then doing it all over again. Keith was able to
swim in the middle of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Japan but the other Coast Guard personnel stood watch with M1 Rifles to watch for Sharks (they never saw any).
At times Keith was able to witness the ocean when it was as smooth as glass and other times when in Typhoon winds up to 100 miles per hour (plus) - not a pretty
place to be on a 311 feet ship. While on the ship in 1958 Keith was entered into a championship Seamanship contest for all seamen in the Hawaii District.
He was fortunate enough to win the contest and won a free weeks vacation on the Island of Hawaii. Some of the things they had to do in the contest were dismantle a
45 Pistol and a M1 Rifle and then put them back together again in the fastest time. Knowledge of seamanship and many other seaman duties were also part of the contest.
In 1959 Keith was transferred to shore duty in Honolulu where he was a U.S. Coast Guard Recruiter for the next year. He lived a block off of Waikiki Beach.
Also in 1959 two people from each branch of service were chosen to take part in ceremonies in the Memorial Day Services in the Punch Bowl National Cemetery in Hawaii.
Keith and his brother, Ted, were chosen to represent the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1959 when Hawaii became the 50th state, Keith marched in the parade down Waikiki Beach,
being one of several people from Iowa to do so.
After serving in Hawaii for two years the Kelderman brothers were able to return to Iowa after being gone for two years.
In 1960 Keith was assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in New York, New York, in Lower Manhattan. He was assigned to the Intelligent and Law Enforcement
Division for the next two years. While in New York, Keith lived in an apartment in Upper Manhattan near Central Park and also on Staten Island across from Lower Manhattan.
He took the Staten Island Ferry back and forth almost every day and went pass the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island but never took the time to take a tour of either one.
While in New York, Keith was able to see a lot of the sporting events at Madison Square Garden and also at Yankee Stadium. He met Mickey Mantle and
Roger Maris as well, when they hit a record number of home runs in 1961. Keith was also fortunate enough to see a lot of plays on Broadway.
He worked at a part-time job on Wall Street in his off duty time which he thought was great experience.
Keith was given an honorable discharge with the rank of Petty Officer, Second Class, after serving four years of duty in the U.S. Coast Guard.
