Recorded in 2003. James Keck provided this oral history in 2003.
Biographical information:
James Vincent Keck was born in Onida, South Dakota on September 30, 1923. During World War II, Keck served with the 10th Mountain Division. He was assigned to the 85th Infantry Regiment, Company I. While engaged in combat operations against the German Army in Italy, Keck was wounded in action on Hill 913 near Castel d’Aiano and received a Bronze Star Medal. Keck achieved the rank of sergeant. Following the war, Keck pursued a career in the insurance industry.
Oral history discussion:
James Keck was a member of Company I of the 85th Regiment and the 3rd battalion. He did his basic training at Fort Leavenworth and was a member of the rifle group. He tells of training with the air force after basic training but after a year was unable to obtain a permanent assignment in the air force. He joined up with the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale just before their move to Camp Swift. He traveled to Italy on the West Point and landed in Naples. He describes in general terms the time in Italy at Riva Ridge and Belvedere, with some details of his time in a German trench on top of Belvedere when several Germans surrendered. He credits the training the 10th Mountain Division received for their ability to take the mountains. He was wounded during the April offensive and was in the hospital until after the war ended. He briefly tells of the time spent on the Yugoslav border. He was discharged from Camp McCoy in Wisconsin.
This oral history was digitized as part of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Recordings at Risk grant project.
