General Donald Raymond Keith was born January 31, 1927 in Ludington, Michigan

Ludington, Michigan

Ludington is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,357. It is the county seat of Mason County.Ludington is a harbor town located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River...

. During World War II, he served in the Army as an enlisted soldier. He graduated from the United States Military Academy

United States Military Academy

The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...

 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

Columbia University

Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...

 in 1958, preceding a faculty assignment at West Point. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Akron

University of Akron

The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...

 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
  Fort Sill
  Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
  
  , 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

Command and General Staff College

The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...

, Armed Forces Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces

Industrial College of the Armed Forces

The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...

. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit

Legion of Merit

The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...

 with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star

Bronze Star Medal

The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...

, 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, and was succeeded by Jack N. Merritt

Jack N. Merritt

Jack Neil Merritt is a retired United States Army four star general who served as U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee from 1985 to 1987.-Military career:...

. He died September 9, 2004. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...

.