Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Award of Air Force Cross to Daniel P. Keller

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 15, 2023

1. Award of Air Force Cross to Daniel P. Keller Marker

Inscription. Citation to Accompany the Award of
the Air Force Cross
to
Daniel P. Keller
Staff Sergeant Daniel P. Keller distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller at Nangahar Province, Afghanistan, on 16 August 2017. On that date, Sergeant Keller embarked on a clearance operation against 350 Islamic State fighters. After fifteen hours of sustained contact, the assault force struck an improvised explosive device, killing four personnel and wounding thirty one. After being knocked over by the force of the blast, Sergeant Keller executed air to ground engagements while returning fire. Sergeant Keller helped move thirteen wounded casualties to a helicopter landing zone under a hail of enemy fire. When medical evacuation helicopters were unable to identify the landing zone, he exposed himself to enemy fire in order to marshal both aircraft and aid in loading casualties. In spite of his injuries, he loaded wounded personnel into vehicles and volunteered to walk back to a combat outpost, escorting other wounded teammates. During this movement, he repulsed a three-sided enemy

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

attack by returning fire and passed enemy positions to another Joint Terminal Attack Controller, allowing friendly forces to break contact. His courage contributed to the survival of the 130 members of his assault force and resulted in an estimated fifty enemy killed in action. Through his extraordinary heroism, Sergeant Keller reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Erected by Combat Control Association.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Afghanistan. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross Recipients series list. A significant day of the year for for this entry is May 31.

Location. 32° 24.267′ N, 86° 14.979′ W. Memorial is in Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama, in Montgomery County. It is on Avenue D, on the right when traveling south. Located at the USAF Senior NCO Academy at the Gunter Annex and requires base access. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 550 McDonald St, Montgomery AL 36115, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Alabama’s

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 15, 2023

2. Award of Air Force Cross to Daniel P. Keller Marker

Tri-Counties River Region.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Daniel P. Keller Marker (on left) among other AF Cross awardees. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 15, 2023

3. Daniel P. Keller Marker (on left) among other AF Cross awardees.

Air Force Base Gunter Annex.

Also see . . . Military Times Hall of Valor AF Cross Citation. (Submitted on April 16, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

History of the Enlisted AF Cross. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 15, 2023

4. History of the Enlisted AF Cross.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 388 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 16, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.