Keehan, Robert James, ENC

KEEHAN, ROBERT JAMES Bob was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin July 25, 1923, to the late James Keehan and Agnes (Reedy) Keehan and passed away peacefully, September 8, 2012, at the age of 89 years in Escondido, California. In 1940 he left his beloved boyhood state and joined the United States Navy where he became a sailor in the submarine fleet. When World War II broke out, December 7, 1941, he was on the USS Sturgeon in Manila Harbor in the Philippine Islands. The USS Sturgeon was immediately dispatched on a war patrol to the area of Formosa. During the next three years the Sturgeon, operating out of Brisbane, Australia, played an important role in the history of the war in the Pacific Ocean where it ran eight war patrols and destroyed many Japanese ships. Late in 1944 he was reassigned to a new submarine, the USS Lizardfish, and served on two more war patrols. At the conclusion of World War II Bob remained in Hawaii where he distinguished himself as the star pitcher for the U.S. Navy's inter-service baseball team. Bob remained in the U.S. Navy until 1963 and retired as Chief Petty Officer engineering. Bob always expressed a deep respect for the commanding officers under which he served and his shipmates who prayed together as their submarine was being depth charged after an attack on enemy ships. Bob is survived by his sister Patricia Maultra and her husband Bud of EI Cajon, California and his many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jean Seder of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and his beloved wife Julie Frodsham from Parker, Arizona. Bob and Julie lived in Escondido, traveled widely and had many close friends. He and Julie organized many reunions for his retired submarine shipmates. Services will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, October 24, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Wounded Warrior Project.