Keppler, Reinhardt J.
Reinhardt John Keppler was born in Ralston, Washington, on 22 January 1918. He was raised in that State and, after graduation from Wapato High School, he enlisted in the US Navy in February 1936 and reenlisted in April 1940. Keppler was promoted to First Class Petty Officer at the beginning of October 1941. During the Second World War, while serving in the heavy cruiser San Francisco, he saw combat action at Pearl Harbor, early wartime raids against Bougainville and New Guinea, and during the Guadalcanal Campaign. When a Japanese bomber crashed into his ship on 12 November 1942, at the beginning of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, he assisted in caring for the resulting casualties. That night, as San Francisco participated in a chaotic battle with enemy warships, he labored valiantly, despite mortal wounds, to save his ship and wounded shipmates. For his "extraordinary heroism and distinguished courage" on these occasions, Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Reinhardt J. Keppler was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
USS Keppler (DD-765), 1947-1972, was named in honor of BM1 Reinhardt J. Keppler. Previously, the escort ships DE-311 and DE-375 had been assigned the name Keppler, but both were cancelled before construction began.
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