Bio: Keppel, William (26 Oct. 1944)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: Keppel, Reeves

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 10/26/1944

Worked Days and Nights to Keep Fires Going on Ship Warrington

Mrs. H. W. Reeves received the following copy of a letter received by the parents of Lt. William Keppel from a comrade who served with him on the ship Warrington:

Norfolk, Virginia, Sept. 22, 1944

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Keppel,

I have just returned from a visit to the survivors of the Warrington. There I was told of the wonderful conduct of a man that I was honored to call one of my best friends, your son.

We were together abroad the Warrington until last April. During that time - under those circumstances - all weaknesses and failings come to the surface. Your Bill had none.

We used to argue over every petty subject under the sun, but I have never been so fundamentally in agreement with anyone I have ever met. Bill so intrinsically fine and idealistic that he was a constant inspiration to us all. Hating war and military service, he nonetheless felt so strongly what we are fighting for (despite this mass of dramatics under which it is often hidden) he made himself the best officer abroad. With no personal military ambition he was driven by idealism alone - a rare thing in this Navy or in this world. Bill’s example made many of us feel ashamed of all our petty complaints.

Nothing can console you for his loss but his life and his last days were so splendid that they may at least inspire you to keep going at this time. I was told how he battled for days and nights without rest to keep the fires going despite rising water. He would pass out from sheer *** Note: The rest of the article was cut off and not available at the time of transcription.