Korean War Veteran.
Willard J. Key was born in Echols, KY on May 9, 1931 to Maggie Huff Key and Thomas M. Key. He was raised in the Echols area and attended Rockport High School. After the completion of school, Willard just could not find meaningful work. In January of 1951, a good paying job in the area was hard to find, so Willard went to Owensboro and enlisted in the Army. That move seemed to be one of his life's better decisions. A war was going on in Korea and Willard was prepared to be sent to the front lines. Instead, of ending up in Korea for two years, he probably received one of the best assignments any soldier could want. After basic training at Ft. Bragg, NC, he was sent to Austria, just at the foot of the Bavarian Alps. Willard spent his tour of duty in Austria and was sent to Camp Kilmer, NJ in early 1953 to muster out of service.
On March 12, 1938, German troops march into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. For the most part, there was not much resistance for this annexing. Prior to the start of World War II, Austria was aligned with Germany and joined the "Axis Powers" to fight against the "Allied Forces" during the war. Thousands of Austrian soldiers fought in the war with Germany, but most of the Austrian Country was free of any battles until near the end of World War II. Some Allied bombing of factories started in early 1943, but no invasion of Allied troops occurred until the Vienna Offensive. After the "Axis Powers" lost the battle of the Vienna Offensive, the Allied occupation of Austria started on April 27, 1945. This Offensive ended with the Austrian State Treaty on July 27 1955. In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones, guess sort of like "To the victors, come the spoils". This beautiful mountainous country was divided up into four separate sections and the sections were jointly occupied by the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France.
For any country to be occupied by a victorious country and in the case of Austria, four different countries, thousands of soldiers are required to maintain law and order and to mold the occupied country back into a functioning country. Willard Key was one of thousands that helped maintain that goal. After a little over ten years, Austria gained her independence and became a neutral country.
As previously stated, Willard joined the Army on January 12, 1951 and was sent to Ft. Bragg, NC for basic training. At the time, one of the responsibilities of Fort Bragg was to provide Basic Training for a special group of soldiers that would become troops for the Corps Of Engineers, 70th Engineers Battalion. The 70th Engineer Combat Battalion was reactivated in 1949 and sent to Austria as a part of the Occupational Forces. After completion of army basic training at Fort Bragg, Willard was sent to Camp Kilmer in New Jersey for some special "Cold Weather" instructions prior to being sent to Austria. He embarked from Camp Kilmer and disembarked at Leghorn, Italy. Then, by train, Willard left Leghorn and arrived in Salzburg, Austria. After a few days of processing at Camp Roeder, he was sent to Camp Saalfelden. At the time, an army base at Saalfelden, Austria was still in the planning stages. Willard's Company was assigned to an area of Saalfelden where the initial construction of an Army Camp had started with a building or two for headquarters and tent barracks for sleeping. A Corps Of Engineer Battalion's purpose is to build things and to blow up things. For the next few months, "A" Company, 70th Engineer Combat Battalion was to build an Army Fort. After constructing permanent barracks, a mess hall, and other structures needed for an Army Company(s), the newly constructed Fort became home for the 70th Engineer Combat Battalion Headquarters and Service Company as well as Companies A, B, and C. Company "D" would maintain its' stay at Camp MacCauley throughout its' duration in Austria. By the end of September, Battalion strength had reached 852 personnel and an Army Camp, Camp Saalfelden, was fully operational.
After his tour of duty, Willard was sent back to Camp Kilmer, NJ, given an Honorable Discharge and sent back to Kentucky. He married Ina Mae from Kyrock and they made their home in Ohio County. Willard was given a job by Peabody Coal Company and during his mining career, he worked at Homestead Mine, River Queen Mine, and Martwick Mine, retiring from Martwick. He and Ina were the parents of two children, a boy, Doug Key of Beaver Dam and and a girl, Penny Key Sims of Georgetown. His enjoyable retirement years were spent living in Beaver Dam with gardening, lawn maintenance, and fishing taking up most of his time.
Thanks Willard. Thanks for your service to our country.
BEAVER DAM -- Willard J. Key, 88, of Beaver Dam, passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2019, under the care of Hospice of Ohio County. He was born May 9, 1931, in Echols to the late Thomas M. Key and Maggie Jane Huff Key. Mr. Key retired from Peabody Coal Co. where he worked at Martwick, River Queen and Homestead mines. He was a member of UMWA Local 9800 and Echols General Baptist Church. Mr. Key served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
Aside from his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, William Key, Everett Key and Herbert Key; and two sisters, LouAnna Sailings and Margie Ross.
He leaves behind his wife of 66 years, Ina Mae Key of Hartford; one son, Douglas Key of Beaver Dam; one daughter, Penelope "Penny" (Jeff) Sims of Georgetown; and a sister, Brenda (Denzel) Scott of Echols.
Services will be noon Friday at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam with the Rev. Jamie Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in Echols Cemetery in Echols. Friends may visit with Mr. Key's family from 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Friday at the funeral home.
