[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 47 (Thursday, March 19, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


HONORING MALCOLM JAMES ``JIMMY'' KEEP FOR HIS SERVICE AND BRAVERY AS A 
MARINE WITH THE FOURTH MARINE DIVISION DURING THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGNS OF 
                              WORLD WAR II

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 19, 2015

  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 on Guam, Saipan and Iwo Jima. Keep, now 
88 years of age and one of two surviving veterans in the Memphis area 
who fought on Iwo Jima, served with the Fourth Marine Division after 
joining the Marines in 1943 at just 17 years old. On March 17, Mr. Keep 
and his son, Mickey, will travel to Iwo Jima with the help of Memphis-
based nonprofit organization Forever Young Senior Veterans to join 70 
other Marine veterans for a 70th anniversary gathering.
  Assigned to reconnaissance duty early in his career along with his 
partner from training, Charlie Ciulla of Massachusetts, Keep 
experienced the brutality of war that many people can only imagine 
through Hollywood films. Keep remembers fighting on Saipan as the 
bloodiest thing he had ever seen as Japanese soldiers employed Banzai 
charges, or human wave assaults, on Marines who were firing 50-caliber 
machine guns--essentially guaranteeing their own deaths. Even though 
Keep was trained in fighting and all too familiar with death, he took 
no satisfaction from the number of Japanese lives lost to his gun fire. 
On Iwo Jima, Keep and Ciulla found themselves exposed to enemy fire 
from all sides when their amphibious tank was disabled near Mount 
Suribachi, causing them to evacuate on foot. The two Marines then ran 
across the island without injury, earning them both the nickname 
``rain-walkers.'' It was believed that if they could survive that kind 
of heavy fire without being hit, then they could walk through rain 
without getting wet. Their mission was not in vain as they saw the 
American flag raised on Suribachi.
  Also on Iwo Jima, the American Marines fell under fire from seemingly 
ghost bullets, which were claiming the lives of many. It was discovered 
that Japanese fighters were using huge tunnels from which they launch 
their attacks. As a recon man, Keep was responsible for clearing out 
the tunnel, and in doing so, he found himself fighting a squad of 
roughly 15. He performed this task every other day for two weeks. In 
addition to helping his fellow Marines depart the island safely; Keep 
was photographed helping a wounded Marine back to the beach. He 
recalled telling the Marine, ``You're getting off this rock. I'll trade 
places with you.'' Jimmy Keep is a true hero.
  After returning to Memphis, Tennessee, Jimmy became an electrician 
and started a family. Today, he still resides in Memphis and is an 
ardent fan of the Memphis Grizzlies. When Jimmy and his son travel to 
Iwo Jima, Jimmy will no doubt be filled with emotions as he is united 
with other Marines who also fought valiantly during World War II. While 
there, Keep plans to visit Japanese Shinto shrines to ask Japanese gods 
for forgiveness for the lives that he took as a result of war. This 
show of sorrow and respect is to be commended. It is my hope, however, 
that he also remain mindful of the countless lives that were saved 
because of his selfless decision at such a young age to fight for his 
country against those forces that sought to do harm to America and the 
American way of life. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring 
Malcolm James ``Jimmy'' Keep for his service and bravery as a Marine 
with the Fourth Marine Division during the Pacific campaigns of World 
War II.

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