Donald R. Keith

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Donald R. Keith
January 31, 1927 (1927-01-31) – September 9, 2004 (aged 77)
General Donald R. Keith
Place of birth	Ludington, Michigan
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1949-1984
Rank	General
Commands held	U.S. Army Materiel Command U.S. Army Field Artillery School
Awards	Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star
Other work	Chairman, United States Field Artillery Association

General Donald Raymond Keith was born January 31, 1927 in Ludington, Michigan. During World War II, he served in the Army as an enlisted soldier. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1949 and was commissioned a field artillery 2nd lieutenant. He received his bachelor's degree from the Academy and a Master's Degree from Columbia University in 1958, preceding a faculty assignment at West Point. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Akron in 1982.

Some of General Keith's key duty assignments in his active military service were:

January 69 to July 70 - Commander, 36th Artillery Group, U.S. Army, Europe
July 70 to June 71 - Executive Officer, Office of the Chief of Research and Development, U.S. Army , Washington, D.C.
August 71 to August 72 - Director, Research and Analysis Directorate, Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
September 72 to May 74 - Director of Developments, Office, Chief of Research and Development, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
May 74 to October 76 - Director of Weapon Systems, Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
October 76 to October 77 - Commanding General, U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
October 77 to December 77 - Acting Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition, U.S. Army , Washington, D.C.
December 77 to August 81 - Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
August 81 to June 84 - Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Development and Readiness Command, Alexandria, Virginia

General Keith attended the Ground General School, Field Artillery School, Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star , the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and numerous foreign awards and service ribbons. He retired from military service on June 28, 1984. In retirement he served as Chairman of the United States Field Artillery Association, from 2002 until shortly before his death,^[1] and was succeeded by Jack N. Merritt. He died September 9, 2004. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.^[2]