Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe

Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe

Jeremiah "Jerry" Joseph O'Keefe, III
Born (1923-07-12)July 12, 1923
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1942 – 1945
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Navy Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross

Jeremiah "Jerry" Joseph O'Keefe, III (born July 12, 1923, Ocean Springs, MS) is an American World War II veteran and decorated fighter pilot ace. In addition he has served his state of Mississippi as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives and was the mayor of Biloxi in the 1970s. He is also a lifelong philanthropist and contributor to his community.

Military career

On Okinawa in April 1945: Maj Axtell, CMC Vandegrift, MajGen Mulcahy, Maj Dorroh, and Lt O'Keefe (left to right)
On Okinawa in April 1945: Maj Axtell, CMC Vandegrift, MajGen Mulcahy, Maj Dorroh, and Lt O'Keefe (left to right)

O'Keefe enlisted in the U.S. Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor and served from 1942-1943. Then he became a fighter pilot with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943-1945. He was a 1st Lt. with the VMF-323 Marine Squadron, known as the "Death Rattlers". He gained recognition for his contributions to an dogfight in Okinawa on April 22, 1945 in which he shot down five Japanese Kamikazes, becoming an ace in a single day.[1] (This action was chronicled on the Dogfight TV series, the episode "Supersonic". On April 28 Lt. O'Keefe shot down another two enemy planes bringing his total victories to seven which made him the highest scoring ace in Okinawa at the time.[2] [3]

Awards

Lt. O'Keefe received both the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service.[4] In connection with the celebration of his 90th birthday on July 12, 2013, a bronze bust depicting him in his gear as a young aviator was installed in the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, honoring him as an ace and member of the Death Rattlers.

Family life

Jerry O'Keefe fathered 13 children with his wife Annette Saxon O'Keefe. Their family has a fondness for Southern cooking and story-telling which inspired their publication of a family cookbook in 1994. Annette O'Keefe died in 1998.[5] Jerry O'Keefe is currently married to Martha Peterson O'Keefe.[6]

Business

Jerry O'Keefe and his family have owned O'Keefe Funeral Homes since the early 1900s. In 1957 he bought his major competitor's business, creating Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes. He also founded a life insurance company, Gulf National Life. In 1996 O'Keefe won a jury trial concerning a contractual dispute involving the family businesses. He and fellow plaintiffs were awarded $500 million in damages, a sum that would have bankrupted the defendant. O'Keefe eventually settled for a significantly lower sum.[7][8]

Political career

Jerry O'Keefe was elected to the Mississippi State Legislature in 1960 for one term, ending 1964. He served as the Chairman of the 'Temperance Committee', fighting for liquor legalization, on a local-option basis, in Mississippi, the last remaining 'dry' state in the nation. In his freshman year he was named one of four most outstanding legislators for his service.[9] After completing his term in office, he returned to his business and civic activities. He later was elected the Mayor of Biloxi, MS for two terms from 1973 to 1981.[10]

Philanthropy

Grounds of Ohr-O'keefe Museums of Art, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA
Grounds of Ohr-O'keefe Museums of Art, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA

Jerry O'Keefe was a major financial contributor and fundraiser for both the Walter Anderson Museum of Art and the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art.[11] He and his wife Annette also founded and endowed the O'Keefe Foundation, a charitable organization designed to support local organizations and various other charitable purposes. O'Keefe has long been active in a variety of civic organizations.[10] In 1967 and 1975, he was honored by the United Fund Campaign for Distinguished Service to the people of Harrison County. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pine Burr Area Boy Scouts of America's Lifetime Achievement Award.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Jerry O'Keefe Becomes 'Ace' in 1st. Combat Flight, Daily Herald, April 22, 1945.
  2. ↑ Wolf, William (1999). Death Rattlers: Marine Squadron VMF-323 over Okinawa. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0953-3.
  3. ↑ Hammel, Eric (2010). Aces in Combat. Pacifica Military History. pp. 119–122.
  4. ↑ "Valor awards for Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe". Military Times. 2013.
  5. ↑ O’Keefe, Annette (1994). Cooking on the Coast. Wimmer. pp. 51 and 218. ISBN 978-0-9641501-0-2.
  6. ↑ Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 186 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011), Remarks by the Hon. Bennie G. Thompson (MS) Honoring Mr. Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe for His Contributions and Service to Community and Country.
  7. ↑ Harr, Jonathan. November 1999. “The Burial” The New Yorker Vol. LXXV No. 32 pp.70-95
  8. ↑ Larson, Erik (December 1996). "Fight to the Death". Time 148 (26): 62–67.
  9. ↑ Jackson Daily News, May 9, 1960, "Outstanding Legislators".
  10. 1 2 Wilemon, Tom (October 22, 2000). "Jerry O'Keefe: Big Man On The Coast Want To Get It Done? Call Jerry O'Keefe". The Sun Herald.
  11. ↑ Pitt, Matt. December 2010. “Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art” South Mississippi Living. pp.58-61.
  12. ↑ [5]

External links

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