Keith

By Kay Onda

Keith is about the first child of our family. He had a generous spirit, a kind and loving soul, and a strong faith in God.He chose to join the navy to spare the family college expenses, which would have been a hardship for the family. He chose to work on ship engines. He received "Sailor of the Month" award in 2005. Keith was assigned to the USS Champlain at the time. He detected a faulty engine part that could have caused a fire.In August 2012, our family received tragic news that Keith had committed suicide according to the navy. We as a family were never given a thorough opportunity to ask and delve into Keith's death. According to a few generous individuals, there were signs at Keith's death scene that indicated otherwise.This is one case among many US service people's deaths that are so sudden and so unexplained. There needs to be a revamping of the military justice system. More independent investigators need to look into these deaths to determine why a murder is being called a suicide? What factors can be looked at other than the bias of a military investigator's list on what constitutes a murder? The nation gives its children to serve and defend our country. It must be the military's responsibility to look after our loved ones who give their lives to serve and protect, as well as being held accountable for the investigation and true explanation behind their deaths.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685269036

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Chapter 1: Early-Morning Departure

Chapter 2: It's a Boy!

Chapter 3: The Arrival

Chapter 4: Fort Loramie

Chapter 5: Big Brother Is Watching and Helping Out

Chapter 6: Championship Football

Chapter 7: Preparing to Play for a Higher Team

Chapter 8: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Chapter 9: Dad, I Need My Contacts!

Chapter 10: The USS Lake Champlain

Chapter 11: Well, Howdy, Texas!

Chapter 12: Texas, Brace Yourself, Here Come the Bemises!

Chapter 13: It's My Ride!

Chapter 14: Go West, Young Man!

Chapter 15: Strange Happenings

Chapter 16: Chief Petty Officer Selectee

Chapter 17: The Terrible Knock at the Door

Chapter 18: The Big, Red Bloodstain

Chapter 19: The Talk on the Stairs

Chapter 20: That's Not a Motorcycle Helmet Imprint!

Chapter 21: The Phone Message

Chapter 22: I Am Right; You Are Wrong

Chapter 23: Food for Thought

Chapter 24: Can Do Investigations

Chapter 25: To San Diego and Back

Chapter 26: A Couple Late Dinners and Murder Theories

Chapter 27: A Little Light in the Midst of the Darkness

Chapter 28: Bomb Threat

Chapter 29: Hidden Messages

Chapter 30: Change.org

Chapter 31: Someone Who Is Just Trying to Help

Chapter 32: I Am Just a Small-Town Lawyer

Chapter 33: Sorry, I Can't Help You!

Chapter 34: Randy Cranston

Chapter 35: Getting the Word Out on Social Pages

Chapter 36: The Navy Told Us Something Else

Chapter 37: The Buck Doesn't Stop Here

Chapter 38: The Number 5

Chapter 39: CrimeCon 2021

Chapter 40: I Hope Your Son Likes His Helmet, Sir

Acknowledgments

About the Author

cover.jpg

Keith

Kay Onda

ISBN 978-1-68526-902-9 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-68526-903-6 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 Kay Onda

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

I dedicate this book to my mother, Naomi Catherine. She was a loving, kind mother who learned to give of herself so that others could have a better life and enjoy life to the fullest possible.

In addition to dedicating this to my mother, I also dedicate this book to our son, brother, and friend Chief Petty Officer John Keith Bemis. Keith served in the navy for twelve years to defend our country and aspired to guide others to develop a positive mindset about life.

Chapter 1

Early-Morning Departure

Keith, it's 3:00 a.m. It's time to get up! Rick is going to be here soon to pick you up!

I am up getting up, Dad. I got to make my bed first. I will be down in a little bit, said Keith.

Keith, do you want any breakfast?

No, Dad. I will probably want to watch TV instead of eating.

Hi, Pookie. Are you ready to go? said Sue.

Yeah, Mom, all I got to do is bring out my duffle bags.

Hey guys, wake up! Come downstairs and tell your brother goodbye and good luck before he goes to the navy, said Sue.

Hey, guys, how y'all doing? Looks like it's about time for me to head out. Just wanted to see y'all, said Keith.

Goodbye, Keith. We love you. Good luck in the navy. Will we get to see you soon? they asked.

No, it will be a while. I will write to you and let you guys know where to send your letters to. Remember our agreement. You do well in school. I'll send you all money for good grades.

Okay, Keith. Love you. See you soon. We're going back to bed.

Okay. Mom and Dad, I'm going outside to wait for Rick.

We'll come out too. Oh, there he is right now, said Sue.

Hi, Bemis family. How are you guys? said Recruiter Rick.

Good. We want to thank you very much for doing this for Keith.

Thank you and thank this young man right here for what he is about to do. Ready to get your ass on the road, young man? We have a few more to pick up along the way, said Rick.

Mom and Dad, give me a hug. I gotta get going.

We love you, son. Please write back soon, I said.

Will do. Love you guys.

Love you Keith. We will miss you, we said.

Sue and I went back inside as Keith left with Rick. A quiet fell over the house. I went upstairs, rubbed my hand over his bedroom door and cried. Keith was missed already. The kids, Sue, and I went back to sleep.

Chapter 2

It's a Boy!

December 1980

Grandma O'Reilly, what is it? I said.

It's Susanne, she's on the phone. She he has something she wants to tell you.

Hi, honey. What do you want to tell me?

I have some really good news. Guess what the doctor told me?

You're pregnant?

Yes, the doctor thinks it's a boy, and he will be born late in September.

That's great, honey. Thank you so much. I love you.

I love you, too. I'll see you tonight.

What's the good news? asked Grandma O'Reilly.

We are going to have a baby!

A baby? When is it going to be due? Will it be a boy or a girl?

The doctor thinks it will be a boy, and he will be born in late September.

That's great! said Grandma O'Reilly.

*****

Hi, honey, I am home. Hi, Grandma. How are you? said Sue.

I am so happy for you, Susanne. I let your mother and father know the good news.

I'll let them know myself, Grandma. I'll give them a call right now, said Sue.

The phone rings. Hello.

Hi, Dad. Can you put Mom on the phone? I have some news to tell her.

Sure. Marie, it's Susanne. She said she has some news to tell you.

Hello, Susanne. What's the news?

Mom, guess what? We're going to have a baby.

"What? That's great! It is a boy