Former Westgate Youth Is Killed
in Iwo Jima Invasion
Fairbank, Ia. – Cpl. John J. Keegan, 19, of the marine corps, former resident of Fairbank, was killed in action March 7, on Iwo Jima, his uncle, Harry Ryan, here, was informed Friday night.
The son of Mrs. S. A. Smorowske, Marcus, Ia., he was graduated from Marcus high school and entered service in February, 1943. He fought on Kwajalein, Saipan and other islands. An expert rifleman, a machine gunner, and expert with the bazooka and mortars, he was personal orderly to a Major and received several citations and medals.
His father, the late Chris Keegan, was a resident of Waterloo, Ia., where John spent his boyhood. Other relatives in this vicinity are two aunts, Mrs. Roy Stalnaker, Westgate, and Mrs. George Jarden, Oelwein, Ia.
Memorial services will be at 9 a. m. Wednesday at Marcus.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, April 01, 1945, Section 4, Page 23
John Francis Keegan was born Oct. 3, 1925 to Chris and Kathryn Marie Ryan Keegan. He is buried in Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Oran Township, Fayette County, IA. [Note Descrepancy: John Francis Keegan is listed in the above newspaper article as John J. Keegan.]
Source: ancestry.com
