Radioman, Third Class Donald Wayne Keller

The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Thursday, June 8, 1944
Page 1

DONALD WAYNE KELLER

Donald Wayne Keller, age twenty, radioman, third class, is the first Jackson county Navy man to be reported missing in action in many months. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Keller, 625 East Third street, who received the official notice Wednesday that he is missing/ He had been assigned in thee Sourth Pacific area.

The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Monday, January 28, 1946
Page 1

Donald Keller, Long Missing, Presumed Dead

Local Radioman Was Aboard Submarine in Pacific Unheard From In Over Twenty Months

Donald Wayne Keller, radioman, third class, in the U.S. Navy, who has been listed missing since May 5, 1944, is now presumed to be dead, according to a letter received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John H. Keller, 625 East Third street, from James Forrestal, of the U.S. Navy department.

The letter follows:

"Your son, Donald Wayne Keller, Radioman third class, U.S. Navy, has been carried on the official records of the Navy Department in the status as missing in action as of 5 May 1944. He was serving on board the USS Gudgeon when that submarine failed to return from patrol operations in the Pacific area."

"On 7 April 1944 the Gudgeon departed from Johnston Island to patrol waters in the Western Pacific where she was likely to encounter the enemy. Subsequent to her departure from Johnston Island the Gudgeon failed to acknowledge three messages the last of which was wsent 14 May 1944. To date no further information has been received by the Navy Department concerning the fate of the submarine."

No Survivor Reports.

"In view of the length of tie that has now elapsed since your son was reported missing and because there have been no official nor unconfirmed reports that any of the personnel of the vessel survived or were taken prisoners of war, I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that your son is deceased. In compliance with Section 5 of Public Law 490, 77th Congress, as amended, the death of your son is, for the purposes of termination of pay and allowances, settlement of accounts, and payment of death gratuities, presumed to have occurred as of 15 January, 1946."

"I extend my deepest sympathy to you in your sorrow. It is hoped that you may find comfort in the knowledge that your son gave his life for this country upholding the highest traditions of the Navy."

Was Sophomore Here.

Mr. Keller was twenty years of age February 29, 1944. He was born near Seymour and had lived in Seymour and the immediate vicinity all his life. He attended school lhere and was a member of the sophomore class of Shields High School when he enlisted in the navy January 19, 1942, before he was eighteen years of age.

He took his training at Great Lakes, Ill., and was given radio training at Indianapolis and San Diego. He was selected for the submarine service and was greatly interested in that branch of Navy duty.