[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 44 (Monday, March 16, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H1652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING MALCOLM JAMES ``JIMMY'' KEEP, VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II

  (Mr. COHEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Malcolm James ``Jimmy'' 
Keep, a lifelong Memphian and a veteran of World War II who fought 
bravely against Japanese forces in Guam, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. Keep, 
now 88 years of age, served with the 4th Marine Division after joining 
the Marines at age 17 in 1943.
  Tomorrow, Mr. Keep and his son, Mickey, will travel to Iwo Jima, with 
the help of a Memphis-based nonprofit organization called Forever Young 
Senior Veterans, to join 70 other Marine veterans for a 70th 
anniversary gathering.
  Jimmy Keep was assigned to reconnaissance duty early in his career 
and recalls fighting on Saipan as the bloodiest thing he had ever seen. 
He came under enemy fire from all sides on Iwo Jima when his amphibious 
tank was disabled, causing him and his partner, Charlie, to evacuate on 
foot. The two escaped unharmed, earning them the nickname ``rain-
walkers.'' If they could survive that kind of heavy fire, they could 
surely walk through rain without getting wet.
  On Iwo Jima, Keep cleared out huge tunnels that were used by the 
enemy to launch attacks on the Marines, and he helped carry a fellow 
marine who was injured back to the beach. He told him: ``You're getting 
off this rock. I'll trade places with you.''
  Jimmy Keep is a true hero. I ask all my colleagues to join me in 
honoring Malcolm James ``Jimmy'' Keep for his service and bravery as a 
marine with the 4th Marine Division during the Pacific campaigns in 
World War II. He will have the Memphis Grizzlies flag when he gets 
there at Iwo Jima, and that will be part of his contribution to 
Memphis.

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