MYSTIC -- The brother of a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice is working to get him the ultimate honor.
Michael Keenan lost his brother Joe in 1953. Joe Keenan was 20 years old when he and his battalion came under intense enemy fire during the Korean War. Joe, after being wounded repeatedly, continued to fight and was killed in action.
In 1999, Mike was able to make a case for his brother to be awarded the Navy Cross but his efforts have continued to get his brother named with prestigious Medal of Honor. "The Medal of Honor is as good as it gets," Keenan said from the study in his Mystic home. "That is the epitome of medals."
Keenan's study is filled with pictures, documents, and a handsome award case -- a tribute to his brother Joe and testament to the years of work he has put in to piece information together in hopes he can make a case for his brother candidacy for the Medal of Honor. "He is just missing one medal," Keenan said. "It would be our legacy, a family legacy." Mike Keenan noted that all seven Keenan brothers served their country.
The Keenan's are now being assisted by the office of Congressman Joe Courtney . Courtney's office told Fox 61 that while the case for Joe Keenan might be strong, it could take years for such an award like the Medal of Honor to come to fruition. Keenan, who lives in Mystic with his wife Sue added that such an award would "be one of the high points in my life."