WWII ace Jerry O’Keefe will receive US Congressional Gold Medal

By MARY PEREZ

June 2, 2015

Hometown hero and former Biloxi Mayor Jeremiah “Jerry” O’Keefe was one of the youngest Americans at age 21 to become an ace fighter pilot during World War II. He earned the “ace” designation by shooting down seven enemy planes. And he did that in one week.
On Friday, he will be honored for his service with a U.S. Congressional Gold Medal.
The medal will be presented at 4 p.m. during a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes. The program will be at the funeral home at 911 Porter Ave. in Ocean Springs
Only 1,447 Americans became ace fighter pilots for shooting down five or more enemy planes in aerial combat during World Wars I and II, Korea or Vietnam. Jeffrey O’Keefe, his son and president of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes, said his father is one of only about 72 aces still living to receive the medal, Congress’ highest civilian award.
The Sun Herald archives detail O’Keefe’s achievements, which were also written up in Time Magazine and other national publications.
The Biloxian lied about his age to get into flight school and he told the Sun Herald he was called up for duty July 12, 1942 — his 19th birthday.
A letter from the Secretary of the Navy praises his actions of April 22, 1945: “Flying his plane aggressively in two engagements against a total of more than 50 Japanese suicide dive bombers, 1st Lt. O’Keefe pressed home a series of bold attacks in the face of hostile fire to destroy five of the enemy aircraft.”
He flew a Corsair fighter plane and was a member of the Death Rattlers fighter squadron of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Division, one of the most decorated squadrons in World War II. O’Keefe shot down five planes that day and the entire squadron shot down 16.
He became an ace during his first combat flight over Okinawa. “I was serving as an altar boy when the priest was saying Mass on the front of a jeep in Okinawa,” he recalled. “Later that day, I shot down five Japanese planes. The following Saturday, I shot down two more.”
In the book “Corsair Aces of World War 2” by Mark Styling, O’Keefe said following those battles in April 1945, he was sent home to Mississippi in early June, two months before the war ended. “Then when Japan quit, I quit,” he said.
He went on to become a state legislator, president of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home for decades and a Biloxi mayor.

He was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and the Gold Star. He will add the Congressional Gold Medal for American Flying Aces to that collection this week.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home celebrates 150th anniversary, Jerry O'Keefe's Congressional Gold Medal

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home celebrated both its 150th anniversary and a special honor bestowed upon its former president, Jerry O'Keefe, during a Friday afternoon event.
Jerry O'Keefe, a World War II ace fighter pilot, received the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress' highest civilian award, during the festivities.
Dignitaries, neighbors, friends and family turned up on the funeral home's steps Friday afternoon to celebrate the pair of accomplishments.
T.J. Moran, of U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo's staff, presented the medal to O'Keefe as the crowd cheered "Yay, Jerry!" and "Good job!"
"I'm proud and humbled by this recognition," the 91-year-old veteran said.
The former Biloxi mayor and state legislator is credited with destroying seven enemy aircraft in Okinawa, Japan, as a young pilot during the war.
Moran said O'Keefe is one of only about 77 aces still living today.
Friday's anniversary event featured live music, and open house of the facilities, a book signing by O'Keefe and a peak at a horse-drawn hearse.
Mayor Connie Moran called the 150th anniversary "a tremendous milestone" and presented the funeral home owners with a proclamation and key to the city.
"Isn't this remarkable," she said, noting the business has been in operation for six generations.
Current President Jeff O'Keefe agreed.
"150 years is a lot of history," he said, running through some of the business's historical highlights.
"My dad (Jerry O'Keefe) and his two brothers were born right here in the front room of this house," he said, motioning toward the building that proudly stands on Porter Avenue.
Jerry O'Keefe was autographing books in that very same room Friday afternoon.