U.S. Army Veteran Richard Keirn honored as Nevada Veteran of the Month at Jan. 4 Ceremony

(LAS VEGAS, NV) Richard Duane Keirn, the only American to be awarded the Royal New Zealand Engineer Badge, was honored as Veteran of the Month by Governor Brian Sandoval Jan. 4 in Las Vegas. Enlisting at age 17, he served 20 years in the U.S. Army, with more than two tours in Vietnam, including a year assigned to the Free World Forces. He retired from active duty as Staff Sergeant in 1981.

In service to veterans, Keirn helped found Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1076 in Henderson, and served as its first president and alternate State Representative. His service has extended to Chapter 730 Military Order of the Purple Heart as senior vice commander and service officer, Nevada Coordinator for Korean Service Awards, Veterans Informative Officer for Veterans Centers and Clinics, Veterans Coordinator for VFW Post 3848, DAV Chapter 12, and American Legion Post 40. He also is trained in and serves as a Nevada Department of Veterans Services Advocate in veterans outreach.

Nellis Air Force Base has benefited from his volunteer efforts as Veterans Volunteer Coordinator for Veterans Chapters, volunteer support to Aviation Nation Air Show, Retiree Appreciation Day.  Keirns’ dedication to veterans also extends to community events in Southern Nevada, including City of Henderson special events, and his work as Affairs Director to Henderson City Council.

Keirn’s unique Vietnam experience as a Combat Engineer with the 7th Army’s 20th Engineer Brigade and Company D 34th Engineer Battalion led to his attachment to the Royal New Zealand Army Infantry/Engineer Team. His role was as Construction Advisor to a small combat base outside the small South Vietnam city of Chi-Lang in Cho-Doc Provence, at the base of Nui-Co-To Mountain (Hill 613) near the Cambodian border, the southern route off the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

The Free World Forces included military units operating in Vietnam, from New Zealand, Australian, Thailand, South Korea and smaller The Free World Forces countries in the region. “It’s the equivalent of the Military Assistance Command (MAC)," he added.

“I was sent by my unit to support the New Zealand Army and somehow I ended up staying with them from 1971 to 1972. It was a big deal for them because they’d never had an American attached to them.

“I left with the New Zealand Army because there were no American units left," Keirn said. “For 30 days, I was a guest of the New Zealand Army and traveled both north and south islands. It was a great honor for me to receive the Royal New Zealand Engineer Badge."

Today, life is about service, retirement, Freemason responsibilities to Dhahran Daylight #55 Lodge, working with his son in the Order of DeMolay and daughter in the International Order of Rainbow Girls, and support of veterans programs.

“I’ve never been back to New Zealand," Keirn said, “but there are about 10 of us still around and we email each other about every three months and send Christmas cards."