Another Vietnam Veteran has passed on. Remembering William J. "Bill" McKeown... a tribute to a good man!

My brother-in-law has passed away!

William J. "Bill" McKeown had been courageously battling lung cancer the past two years. Unfortunately, it came back with a vengeance this past fall.?Today (March 8th) would have been his 74th birthday!

Kathy, pinning on Bill's "Expert" Rifle Badge...

Bill and my sister Kathy met their freshman year in college (1967). Through the end of school, work and The Vietnam War they dated and eventually were engaged.

Bill proudly served his country as a member of the 25th Infantry Division's 27th Regiment...the storied Wolfhounds, first formed in 1901 with service in the Philippines, Russia, World War II, Korean and Vietnam. The First Wolfhounds arrived in South Vietnam in January 1966. During their five-year stay in Vietnam, the Wolfhounds were considered one of the 25th Infantry Division's most effective units, earning a Valorous Unit Citation in 1967. Primarily operating from Cu Chi in the Tay Ninh Province, the Battalion participated in Operation Attleboro, Cedar Fills, Junction City, the '68 and '69 Tet Offensives, and the 1970 invasion of Cambodia. One of the last of the 25th Infantry Division's units to depart Vietnam, the Wolfhounds arrived home in Hawaii in April, 1971.

The Regiment proudly carries over twenty-nine battle streamers and more than eleven citations on its colors. Its motto, "NEC ASPERA TERRENT," translates to "FEAR NO DIFFICULTIES," but is commonly known as "NO FEAR ON EARTH".

When Bill first met my sister, he was driving a big old ’56 Buick. When he came home from Vietnam, he bought a ’66 Mustang Fastback and offered me a ride…?all these years later it is STILL my favorite car!

They were married on February 2nd, 1973 (50 years ago last month).

From an early age, Bill worked alongside his dad in their family beverage distributor business, McKeown Beverages, in the Lawndale section of Northeast Philadelphia. Bill eventually took over as President of the business?alongside his siblings as co-owners.??Under his leadership, the business tripled in size throughout the 1980’s and 1990's.

When I came home from “senior week” at the Jersey shore after high school graduation in the late 70’s, Bill asked me what my plans were for the summer before going off to school?

I shared that I was going to look for a job starting on Monday. He immediately called out a number for me to dial and then asked me to hand him the phone. The phone was attached to the wall in my parent’s kitchen and had a long cord. After I dialed the number and gave him the phone… he talked to his brother-in-law Ron Zimmerman. This was on a Saturday evening. A?few minutes later I was scheduled to meet Ron at 7:00 AM the following Monday and I ended up with a landscaping?job?that I held for the next three summers while I was in school.

The deli counter in the "Superette" at McKeown's

During the school year I would sometimes help out at the family business over the holidays as business would pick up significantly. On any given day, a “poor soul” from the neighborhood might shuffle into the store and ask, “Is Billy around?” We would knock on the office door and let Bill know that “Tom or John or Mike” was asking for him. After a few minutes with Bill, they would walk out feeling better for having talked with him. On many occasions, he would ask us to go to the deli counter up front and get a sandwich for “Tom or John or Mike” and have it put on his tab. No fanfare, no fuss… just quietly helping somebody who had had a bad turn get back on their feet.

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As the family business took off, Bill looked for ways to more formally help out with the community and to "cast a wider net". To this end he helped Charter/Establish the Rising Sun Chapter of the Lions Club International?(and became its first and youngest president).

The Lions Club's Charter calls for its members to stand for peace and understanding, and to unite through kindness to serve those in need! Bill was already doing this on his own when he signed on to bring help to the neighborhood at large as he simply wanted to help that many more people.

In addition to the Lions Club, Bill volunteered to lead any number of fundraising efforts for church, school, and local families in times of need. He was also actively involved in local political campaigns (on both sides of the aisle), the Knights of Columbus, and helped lead the Lawncrest Fourth?of July Parade for a number of years.?

As a Vietnam Veteran, he was eminently qualified to serve on the congressional committee that recommended candidates for acceptance to the military academies at Annapolis, West Point and Colorado Springs.?

?A few years ago (2018) Bill was invited to take part in the Bucks County Tour of Honor. (Bucks County is just outside of Philadelphia and is where many of our family now reside.)

The Tour of Honor is an amazing event that treats local veterans to a bus trip to Washington DC to tour the various monuments to THEM, while fostering camaraderie and friendships amongst the participants. Along the route to and from Washington, the people in many small towns will turn out with the local fire companies and police departments to wave American Flags and cheer on the Vets as their busses pass by.

In preparation for the tour in 2018, all of Bill’s family members were encouraged to write him a letter thanking him for his service and sharing a memory or two about him. As I was drafting my letter and looked back on my relationship with Bill, I realized that he had been a constant presence in every major milestone event in our family’s history… weddings, funerals, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries… you name it, Bill was there.

One particular memory that stood out was when my dad (Bill’s father-in-law) died in 1983, Bill stepped in and provided some much-needed advice to a young Marine getting ready to deploy for the first time. Having served in Vietnam, he was more than qualified. I remember well his comments to “Take care of your team… if you have their back, they’ll have yours. You can learn a lot from the NCO’S and junior folks who have more time in service than you!” Simple, straightforward and “spot on” advice.

Affectionately known as “Two Dollar Billy from Northeast Philly”, he was beloved by all who crossed his path for his endless generosity, positive energy, optimistic spirit, and infectious laughter. At home, he enjoyed tending his garden and continued to create new landscape designs over the years.?

Bill loved his children and grandchildren and was a devoted husband whose unwavering love for his wife, Kathy was a blessing and an example to all.

"They don’t make ‘em like Bill McKeown anymore!" Son, brother, husband, dad, grandpop, friend… Bill always brought out the best in people and exhibited the best that we can all be.?

Thank you, Bill, for your selfless example and your unwavering faith in God, family, friends and your fellow veterans.

As we head into the Easter/Passover season, let’s remember that God is in control... we’re only here for a short while.?

Make it count by making a difference where you can, whenever you can and for whomever you can.

Semper Fi and God Bless us everyone- Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, Coastguardsman, Military Families and Veterans!

Requiescat in pace... love you brother… “See you at the Gate!”

Paul McBride is a former Marine Officer, and the Founder and President of American Military Society Press. Currently he serves as RVP at ZeOmega, Inc. You can contact him at [email protected]

Bucks County Veterans Memorial Park at Maplewood, Doylestown, PA (Fall 2022)