World War II veteran laid to rest 84 years after his death

Multimedia Journalist

FORT SMITH, Ark. —

A World War II veteran who died in a prisoner-of-war camp was finally laid to rest 84 years later at Fort Smith National Cemetery.

William Keele was not from Arkansas, but veterans, firefighters and other community members gathered to honor his service and sacrifice.

“Even though he was not from Arkansas, he’s home,” ceremony officiant Richard McKinney said.

Firefighters flew the American flag, and veterans led the procession to the cemetery as bagpipes played and motorcycles accompanied Keele’s remains.

Keele was born in Tennessee in 1917 and enlisted in the Army when he was 22. He was captured during the fall of the Philippines in April 1942 and forced to endure the Bataan Death March. Prisoners were made to march 65 miles under brutal conditions with little food, water or medical care.

Keele survived the march but died a few months later in a prisoner-of-war camp. He was buried in a common grave identified as No. 316.

“They wrote his name on a condensed milk can,” McKinney said. “That was his record that they put down in the (mass) grave.”

McKinney presided over the burial ceremony. The flag draped over Keele’s casket was presented to his only surviving immediate relative, a half-sister who lives in Sebastian County, Arkansas.

According to McKinney, Keele’s sister did not know she had a brother until the military contacted her after receiving DNA results.

“She never even knew she had a brother,” McKinney said. “She said, until the military contacted her to say they had her brother’s remains, she thought it was a joke.”

Keele received top military honors at the ceremony as veterans fulfilled their commitment to bring a fallen service member home.

“As military members, as veterans, combat veterans, we don’t want to leave anybody behind,” McKinney said.

Keele’s family declined to speak on camera but expressed gratitude to everyone who helped honor him throughout his journey home.