Private
    Earl J. Keating

  • Private Earl J. Keating, a New Orleans native who was killed in action on December 5, 1942, in the Australian Territory of Papua. His remains were not identified until August 2015, and he will be buried in New Orleans in May 2016. Courtesy Nadau duTreil Keating.
    Private Earl J. Keating, a New Orleans native who was killed in action on December 5, 1942, in the Australian Territory of Papua. His remains were not identified until August 2015, and he will be buried in New Orleans in May 2016. Courtesy Nadau duTreil Keating.

    Private Earl J. Keating, a New Orleans native, was killed in action on December 5, 1942, in the Australian Territory of Papua (present-day Papua New Guinea). He will be buried in his hometown May 28, 2016.

  • Keating, assigned to the Anti-Tank Company, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division, died under heavy Japanese attack while his unit defended a position that would be known as Huggins Roadblock. He was buried there with Private John H. Klopp, also of New Orleans, near where the men fell. The location of the gravesite was lost until 2011, when Keating’s and Klopp’s identification tags were reported discovered. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency released its report identifying Keating’s remains in August 2015.

  • The discovery of Private Earl J. Keating’s identification tags led to the recovery of his remains. Keating died under heavy Japanese attack while his unit defended a position known as Huggins Roadblock. He was buried there with Private John H. Klopp, also of New Orleans, near where the men fell. Gift of Nadau duTreil Keating, 2016.220.

  • Keating attended Sacred Heart of Jesus School and Jesuit High School, where he played on the football team. A fishing and photography enthusiast who also played the flute, Keating studied graphic arts at Delgado Central Trades School, and later worked as a commercial artist for Maison Blanche department store. He enlisted in the US Army in September 1941. He was 28 years old at the time of his death, and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, among other honors.

  • Private Earl J. Keating’s Sheaffer’s Balance fountain pen was recovered with his remains. He was 28 years old at the time of his death, and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, among other honors. Gift of Nadau duTreil Keating, 2016.220.

  • Keating will return to New Orleans in May 2016, when his body will be received at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport with full military honors. At 11:00 a.m. May 28, visitation will be at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 1235 Louisiana Avenue. At 1:00 p.m., Archbishop Gregory Michael Aymond will say the Mass of Christian Burial. After the Mass, Keating’s funeral procession will pass The National WWII Museum and pause. At that time, the Museum’s flag will be lowered to half-staff and Taps will be played. The procession will then continue to St. Joseph Cemetery, 2220 Washington Avenue, for burial. Group remains representing Keating and Klopp were buried in Arlington National Cemetery in March 2016.

This Memorial Day, Honor Private Earl Keating

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