Their Story

Vincent Parks Keve was born on September 15, 1898, to Mary (Parks) and John Fremont Keve in Carthage, Illinois.1 Keve served in World Wars I and II. Not much information is known about Keve’s service in World War I, other than that he served as a fireman in the United States Navy. In mid-1936, Keve began working for the Johnson County Democrat in Johnson County, Iowa. His main responsibility was to seek new subscribers for the paper.2 On August 12, 1942, Keve enlisted in the Navy to serve in World War II. At the time, Keve was employed at the Sibley Gazette Tribune in Sibley, Iowa, where he again sought new subscriptions for the newspaper.3
Starting in August of 1942, Keve was stationed on the U.S.S. Monticello, as a Fireman Second Class. By December, Keve had been promoted to Fireman First Class, and by October 1943, Keve had been promoted once more, to Machinist’s Mate Second Class (MM2C).4 Some of the responsibilities for a MM2C included operating and maintaining steam engines, distillation plants, and auxiliary engine pumps, as well as supervising engine rooms.5 Before his promotion to this rank, he worked in the engine room.

The Monticello’s main purpose in the war was to transport troops to invasion areas. For instance, it sailed to North Africa in early November 1942, then to the China-Burma-India Theatre in December. While in port, Keve loved to explore the port cities, and acquired an admirable collection of souvenirs from these cities. Throughout the duration of the war and while aboard the Monticello, Keve traveled across the world, including the Middle East, the Asiatic-Pacific area, and the European-African area.6
Not much information could be found on Keve’s life after his honorable discharge from the Navy, but it was said that he was a member of the local American Legion and Masonic Lodge. He was also a faithful member of the Methodist Church. On May 2, 1966, Keve passed away after suffering a heart attack. He had been living at the Rowley Men’s Masonic Home in Perry, Iowa. Keve was survived by four sisters.7
References
1“Vincent Parks Keve in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” ancestry, n.d., U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 – Ancestry.com
2“Notes & Tidbits: Vincent Parks Keve,” ancestry, 7 November 2011, Notes & Tidbits: Vincent Parks Keve (ancestry.com)
3“Vincent P. Keve Has Enlisted in Navy,” The Sibley Gazette-Tribune, (Sibley, Iowa), 27 August 1942, p.1, https://sibley.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=vincent%20keve&i=f&d=01011873-12312019&m=between&ord=k1&fn=sibley_gazette_tribune_usa_iowa_sibley_19420827_english_1&df=1&dt=1.
4“Notes & Tidbits: Vincent Parks Keve.”
5“U.S. Navy Uniforms and Insignia of World War II,” Naval Reference, n.d., WWII: Petty Officer Ratings, by branch (ussmarblehead.com)
6“Vincent Keve Now Serving With U.S. Navy,” Monticello Express, (Monticello, Iowa), 29 July 1943, p.1, https://monticello.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=vincent%20keve&i=f&d=01011865-12312019&m=between&ord=k1&fn=monticello_express_usa_iowa_monticello_19430729_english_1&df=1&dt=4.
7“Vincent Keve Dies At Perry on May 2,” The Mount Vernon Hawkeye-Record and The Lisbon Herald, (Mount Vernon, Iowa), 12 May 1966, p.1, https://mountvernon.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=vincent%20keve&i=f&d=01011860-12312012&m=between&ord=k1&fn=mount_vernon_hawkeye-record_and_lisbon_herald_usa_iowa_mount_vernon_19660512_english_1&df=1&dt=10.