Company Blog

Combat Outpost (COP) Keating is located in the wilderness of the Hindu Kush Mountains. More specifically, it can be found in the Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province of Afghanistan. Built by U.S. Army forces in the summer of 2006, COP Keating began life as a Provisional Reconstruction Team base (PRT).

It was April of 1942. America was at war. The U.S. was still struggling to recover from the deadly and destructive attack on Pearl Harbor just weeks earlier. Tensions were high as many people began to believe the Japanese could not be stopped and that the west coast of the United States was in grave danger. President Roosevelt had gathered his top military commanders and instructed them to prepare a decisive response to the Japanese aggression. Obviously a counter strike was inevitable and the President knew that resolute action would not only build morale among the American people, it would also generate support for the war.

Daniel Joseph Daly was born November 11, 1873 in Glen Cove New York. As a boy in New York City, he spent his days competing for the best street corner from which to sell his newspapers. Daly lived a rough and tumble childhood, and as he grew older, he appeared in the local sports clubs as a semipro boxer. As an adult, Dan Daly was a diminutive individual standing 5'6" and weighing about 135 pounds.

Who was Dan Daly? Marine Major General John A Lejeune described him as “The outstanding Marine of all time”, and Marine Major General Smedley Butler called him “The fightinest Marine I ever knew”. This was high praise indeed as General Lejeune was Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1920 to 1929 and Smedley Butler was a two time Medal of Honor recipient.

In the history of the Marines Corps, only two men have earned the Medal of Honor twice, for separate acts of heroism. Dan Daly is the other two time Medal of Honor recipient. Daly enlisted in the Marine Corps in January of 1899 because he wanted to fight in the Spanish-American War. But by the time he completed his training, he had missed that opportunity.

 Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

So began the speech given by President Franklin D Roosevelt as he addressed America, and a joint session of Congress, concerning the deadly air strikes on Pearl Harbor.

This is a story about a real life American hero; a man who gallantly served his country for 34 years. His actions on the battlefields of WWII, Korea and Vietnam were extraordinary! His courage, devotion to duty and selfless attitude has made him a patriot, and a man who deserves our utmost respect and gratitude.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military award presented by the United States for heroism in combat. The Medal of Honor is, of course, unique in many ways. It was first approved by President Lincoln during the Civil War. It was later made a permanent decoration by Congress in 1863. During the ensuing 148 years, the Medal of Honor has been earned on more than 3,400 occasions. But even more amazing, 19 men have received 2 Medals of Honor!