LGEN Robert Keller Luncheon

LGEN Robert P. Keller, USMC (Ret.) Speaks to Chapter at November 20004 Luncheon

Lieutenant General Robert Keller visited the Atlanta Chapter and was our guest speaker at the November luncheon.

Chapter member Les Gable ’70 arranged the visit. Les came to know LGEN Keller through his friend and USNA company classmate Dick Folga ‘70. Visiting us along with Dick was his wife Celeste. Dick was a Naval Aviator (helicopters). He is active in the Pensacola Chapter of the USNA Alumni Association and is also active with the Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola. Celeste is active in the Pensacola community and is also the business manager for the Pensacola Chapter.

Guest Bobbi Cork is a friend of the Folga’s and was a Lt. Col. in the Army. (It's OK... we'll forgiver her!) Bobbi was the first female tactical officer assigned to the Georgia National Guard. Bobbi's son, Matt competed for appointment to the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy last year. The Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation presented Matt a scholarship to prep school and he is assured an appointment to Air Force entering next June. Bobbi's daughter, Christy, is being recruited for Navy by Les and Cindy Miller, our Area Blue & Gold Coordinator.

Well, it turns out that Dick is a personal friend of LGEN Keller. So, through those few degrees of separation, we were lucky enough to have LGEN Keller come up from his home in Florida to visit us.

LGEN Keller’s book titled “Three Wars… One Marine”, relates his personal experiences of serving in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Needless to say, LGEN Keller had a long and distinguished military career.

Dick Folga introduced LGEN Keller to the 40+ area alumni and friends present at the luncheon. LGEN Keller started his presentation by explaining his early fascination with flying and some key events that lead him to a career in aviation.

He first displayed a pair of weathered books that he had brought with him. It turns out that these were both books about the adventures of flying written by author Tom Swift. One dated 1910 and one dated 1921! Those, he said, provided the first spark of interest in flying. Two additional events in his childhood also prodded him toward a career of flying. As a youngster, he had the occasion to see, in person, both Charles Lindbergh (in 1927) and Amelia Erhardt just a few years later.

Having thus made his choice at a young age he entered what was then a military Aviation Cadet program and learned to fly. He completed the program in January of 1940 and was accepted into the Navy’s aviation program. Unfortunately there were no billets available to fill until that October. Since he was “ready now”, a billet was found in a Marine aviation program that summer, which he accepted. “That”, he said, “is how I became a Marine!”

His Marine Fighter Squadron was deployed to Midway Island in the Pacific. He was rapidly promoted, becoming the XO and then CO of the squadron as a Major at the ripe old age of 23! For that accomplishment and others, he came to be known as “Young Bob”. Combat flight mission assignments there were six weeks on and six weeks off. During his missions he downed one enemy aircraft and damaged two others. He claimed that it took him a time or two to get the hang of leading the target with the tracers and not flying so fast he flew up their tails before he had a chance to fire the guns!

After Midway, he returned to the U.S., completed night fighter school, and was deployed to Okinawa in July of 1945 as CO of Marine Night Fighter Squadron 553 assigned to cover the invasion of Japan. When the war ended his squadron flew to Peiping, China, to assist in the repatriation of Japanese forces to their home islands.

LGEN Keller’s Marine Corp forces were the first to reach Korea in 1950. Their squadron of 24 Corsairs catapulted off of an aircraft carrier to a shore base to support a regiment of Marine ground troops. He led the first sortie of eight Corsairs and fired what were the Marine Corp’s first shots of the Korean War!

LGEN Keller also served in the Vietnam War from April 1967 to April 1968 as Assistant Wing Commander, 1^st Marine Aircraft Wing. Interestingly, both of his sons also served in Vietnam during about that same time frame.

When asked to fill out a scorecard for the three wars in which he fought, he said “We won World War II, we tied the Korean War, and we lost in Vietnam.” Through all three wars, however, his passion for aviation was clear. Before retiring from the service as a Lieutenant General in 1974, he was qualified to fly over 75 different aircraft, including helicopters.

If Tom Swift only knew what he started! What an honorable man, what an exemplary Marine Corp officer, and what a great servant to his country!

We cannot thank LGEN Keller enough for his service, or for taking the time to visit with us in Atlanta.

For LGEN Keller’s complete military history click,

LGEN Keller Bio

Those present at the luncheon were: LGen Robert Keller, USMC (Ret.), author and guest speaker; Charles Hill '42; Jim Ravenel '45; Walter Sheffield '51; John Stark '51; Perry Stephens '51; Jack Wilson '53; John Brashear '54; Johns Jaudon '55; Bill Rentz '55; Charley Plumly '55 - a member of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, who gave us an update; Dale Herndon '56; Mike Miller '56; Clint Johnson '60; Carl McCallum '60; Paul Hurst '62; Bill Holmes '64; Lorie Moore '64; Jon Barton '66; Jim Slemenda '66 and his wife Susan; Eric Johnson '67; Paul Borer '70, Alex Cobble '70; Dick Folga ''70 (Pensacola Chapter) and his wife Celeste; Les Gable '70 and guest Bobbi Cork (parent of future Mid); Tom Galloway '71; Mitch Rowland '71; Bob Schultz '71; Lee Whitfield '71; Steve Frederick '72; Tom Ryan '80; Ed Brownlee '81; Mario Maddox '85; Cindy Miller '90; Brian Pilger '93; Bjorn Barja '98; and Colby Rankin, USNA Foundation Staff.

The following photos were taken during the luncheon.

Click on a thumbnail image to view a full sized picture.

Chow line opens!	Center head of table and left: LGEN Keller, Dick Folga '70, Celeste Folga, Bobbi Cork, Les Gable '70.
Chapter President Bill Rentz '55 conducts Chapter business.	Dick Folga '70 introduces LGEN Keller
LGEN Keller starts his remarks.	LGEN Keller with his book.
Book cover close-up.	Chapter President Bill Rentz '55 presents LGEN Keller with his personalized Atlanta Chapter Apron.