Medal of Honor Recipient who attended 2007 Green Bay Convention was killed on Sunday

We just found out this sad, tragic news about our dear friend, Len Keller. This is sad for so many reasons as we had announced and were in the process of completing the endowment drive for the Len Keller Scholarship of Honor at Guilford High School in Rockford, IL. Len was going to present the first award. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. If you would like to donate to the Len Keller Scholarship of Honor, please sent donation to:

Len Keller Scholarship of Honor
1135 Pleasant Valley Dr.
Oneida, WI 54155

Len is shown here with his granddaughter, Angela during the 2007 Medal of Honor Convention

Photo: Nick DelCalzo

Local Medal of Honor recipient dies at 62
Len Keller killed on Sunday in motorcycle accident
Louis Cooper • lcooper@pnj.com • October 20, 2009

A Milton resident who was a Medal of Honor recipient died Sunday in a motorcycle crash as he was leaving a veterans club. Leonard "Len" Keller, 62, died at Sacred Heart Hospital after the accident outside the Fleet Reserve Association in Milton. Keller served for two years in Vietnam, then worked for 28 more as a civilian in the supply department at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

Capt. Bill Reavey, commanding officer of Pensacola NAS, called Keller's death "a national loss."
"Len was a very humble guy. What he did was just amazing," said Reavey, who spoke at Keller's retirement party in December."If you met him and then you read his citation, you'd never know it was him. What he did was super human. He saved numerous lives that day."

Keller served as an Army sergeant in Vietnam. President Lyndon Johnson presented him with the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony in 1968.The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military honor. It is presented by Congress for risk of life in combat beyond the call of duty.

Keller received the medal in recognition of "conspicuous gallantry" as he and another soldier came under fire from the Viet Cong in a number of enemy bunkers and in nearby trees. "Sgt. Keller quickly moved to a position where he could fire at a bunker from which automatic fire was received, killing one Viet Cong who attempted to escape," according to the citation.

"Leaping to the top of a dike, he and a comrade charged the enemy bunkers, dangerously exposing themselves to the enemy fire," according to the citation. He then charged a second bunker, killing its occupant, and five more bunkers, killing the enemies in them.

"During their furious assault, Sgt. Keller and his comrade had been almost continuously exposed to intense sniper fire as the enemy desperately sought to stop their attack," the citation reads. After his ammunition was exhausted, Keller returned to his platoon to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. "His acts are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army,'' the citation states.

Upon retirement, Keller placed his actions firmly in the midst of those performed by his fellow soldiers. "I'm not any different than any of the other people who were there," he said in an interview. "I just received a medal. A lot of guys out there deserved medals too, they just didn't make it."

Sunday's crash occurred at 3:18 p.m. as Keller was leaving the fleet center on his Harley Davidson three-wheeled motorcycle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Keller made a sharp left and "was traveling too fast for the turn and left the paved surface of the road," the Highway Patrol reported. The motorcycle overturned several times and came to final rest on top of Keller. He was not wearing a helmet

Bellin College of Nusing Recipient, Amy Rader

Amy Rader of Green Bay, Wisconsin received this years' Brian LaViolette Scholarship at Bellin College last night at their Scholarship Salute Ceremony.

Amy graduated from Notre Dame High School and St. Norbert College and has recently returned to school after having 5 children.

Bellin College is dedicated to preparing health-care professionals by providing an intellectually stimulating environment focused on leadership, community service, and lifelong learning that promotes excellence in health-care practice and the advancement of the profession. Their celebrating their 100th anniversary this year.

Andrzej visits from Poland!

Andrzej Zawieska from the Nidzica Community Foundation in Poland was in Wisconsin last week and was able to spend time with a few of the important people to Brian's Foundation.

Here he is pictured with Bob Nueske (above) and Ron Weyers (bottom), two of our sponsors of our Poland Scholarships. He also serenaded them with his great accordion playing.

Andrzej is instrumental in coordinating our seven annual scholarships in Nidzica Poland. We couldn't do it without him!

Scholarship Recipient Following in his Family’s Footsteps and Local War Hero

Mikael Anthony Torres, a 2009 graduate of Waipahu High Schools in Oahu, Hawaii was awarded the 3rd annual Nainoa Hoe Scholarship of Honor on August 28 at the 1Lt. Nainoa K. Hoe Battle Command Training Center located on Schofield Barracks.

It was a special day for many reasons, especially because it would have been Nainoa’s 32nd birthday. The scholarship honors the memory and service of 1Lt. Nainoa Hoe, of Maunawili, Oahu, who was leading a combat patrol in Mosul, Iraq when he was killed in action on January 22, 2005.

The scholarship is awarded to an incoming freshman in the University of Hawaii’s Army ROTC “Warrior Battalion.” The Warrior Battalion ROTC program is singularly unique as it is authorized to display a “Campaign or Battle Ribbon” earned by the Cadets in Defense of Hawaii in WWII.

Mikael’s selection recognizes his scholastic abilities and JROTC leadership. The eldest child in a “Career Army Family” young Mikael learned at an early age the true meaning of “Duty, Honor, Country.”

Today’s Army Family presents many challenges, parents on deployment, multiple moves, attending different schools and adjusting to a life of uncertainty and stress. The motto “Army Strong” is meaningful only in conjunction with “Family Strong.” Mikael is a shining example of both.

This scholarship is made possible by Waimanalo businessman and Brian LaViolette Foundation Board member, Ohelo Kaopio.

Pictured here: Staff Sgt. Nakoa K. Hoe, brother of 1st Lt. Nainoa, Mr. Allen K. Hoe, Father of 1st LT. Nainoa Hoe, Mikael Torres, Sgt. Maj. Anthony Torres, and Sgt. 1stClass Jean J Torres, Father and Mother of Mikael Torres

2nd in the Seidler Family Receives Brian LaViolette Scholarship at NWTC

Suring High School graduate, Will Seidler received the Brian LaViolette Scholarship at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) this past week. Will plans to study Manufacturing Engineering Technology at NWTC. His brother, Paul received the scholarship in 2007 and studied in the Diesel Mechanic Associate Program.

Pictured left to right: Mrs. Seidler, Paul (Will’s brother, who received the scholarship in 2007) Mr. Seidler, Will, Renee and Doug LaViolette