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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Betsy Hart, 202-225-8555

**PHOTO ATTACHED**

MASTER SERGEANT WOODROW KEEBLE AWARDED MEDAL OF HONOR IN WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY

Herseth Sandlin Attends Ceremony Recognizing First Sioux Tribal Member to Receive Military’s Highest Honor

March 3, 2008, Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin attended a White House Ceremony posthumously awarding Master Sergeant Woodrow “Woody” Wilson Keeble with the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in the Korean War. As a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, Keeble is the first Sioux tribal member to receive the Medal of Honor.

“Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble’s heroic actions have long warranted recognition and I was honored to be at White House today as the President presented the Medal of Honor,” Herseth Sandlin said. “The Medal of Honor, our military’s highest honor, is a fitting, although long overdue, recognition for Master Sgt Keeble’s courageous actions in serving his country. His heroism reminds us of the sacrifice of all of our nation’s veterans, but particularly Native American veterans, whose record of service is often overlooked.”

Woodrow Keeble was born in Waubay, South Dakota to Isaac and Nancy (Shaker) Keeble on May 16, 1917 and served with the “I” Company of the North Dakota 164th Infantry Regiment in World War II and the Korean War. He is one of the most decorated soldiers in South/North Dakota history, yet was never considered for the Medal of Honor due to bureaucratic mix-ups. Following his death in 1982, he was buried in Sisseton, South Dakota and the gym at the Wahpeton Indian School was dedicated in his honor.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin has been proud to join with the other members of the North and South Dakota Congressional delegations, the 164th Infantry Association, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, the National Congress of American Indians, members of Keeble’s family and others who have been advocating for Keeble to receive the medal.

The FY 2008 National Defense Authorization act included a provision that waived time restraints to allow the president to grant posthumously Master Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Keeble the Medal of Honor.

Pictured: Rep. Herseth Sandlin speaks with Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton (D-MO) at the Medal of Honor Ceremony in the East Room of the White House honoring Master Sgt. Woody Keeble.

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Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.