Sgt. Leonard B. Keller pulled out of the parking lot of a veterans' association on Sunday in Milton (Fla.), taking a sharp left turn to hit the highway on his Harley. Something went wrong, and the motorcycle overturned. When Sgt. Keller, 62, died later that day, Florida's loss spoke to the heart of a nation. Keller belonged to one of the most exclusive and distinguished groups in our country--he was (a recipient of) the Medal of Honor.
On May 2, 1967, Keller was serving as a sergeant in Company A, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. On that day, in the Ap Bac Zone, Republic of Vietnam, Keller and fellow soldier Specialist Four Raymond R. Wright stormed a series of enemy bunkers which were firing on their unit.
For their actions, both Keller and Wright were awarded the Medal of Honor. The medal was formally presented to him on September 19, 1968, by President Lyndon B. Johnson during a ceremony at the White House.
After being discharged from the military in August 1968, Keller married and eventually moved to Florida. His wife was a veteran of the United States Navy, and Keller worked for the Navy in Pensacola.