Willard Woodward Keith, Jr. (June 13, 1920 – November 3, 1942) was a United States Marine Corps infantry officer who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic leadership during World War II in the Matanikau Offensive of the Guadalcanal Campaign.
[4] Keith was called to active duty on February 20, 1941, and served "stateside" until his unit was transferred to the South Pacific in the spring of 1942 during the build up for the first Allied offensive in that theater — the Battle of Guadalcanal.
[8] That afternoon, Captain Keith led his company against a Japanese strong-point that was entrenched on high ground and concealed by heavy jungle growth.
[13] Later, Colonel Merritt A. Edson, the commander of 5th Marine Regiment and recipient of the Medal of Honor, said he took pride in the type of leadership displayed in Captain Keith.
[12] For his heroic actions, Captain Willard W. Keith, Jr. posthumously received the Navy Cross for a "grim determination and aggressive devotion to duty" in keeping with the "highest traditions of the naval service."
Finally, USS Willard Keith (DD-775), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, was named in his honor as a recognized war hero.