Orin Fenno Keyes Jr. Memorial Stone

Orin Keyes was born in Barnstable in 1921 and graduated from Barnstable High School in 1938. Orin F. Keyes Jr. enlisted in the United States Army on August 24, 1938 and eventually joined B Company of the 101st Airborne Division, the 502nd Parachute Infantry Division. He also volunteered as a paratrooper and received his wings in Fort Benning, Georgia. Private First Class Orin F. Keyes Jr. was advancing in the Netherlands, and on September 21, 1944 he was killed in action during Operation Market Garden at the time of the liberation of St Oedenrode, the Netherlands. He was awarded the Purple Heart. In St Oedenrode a stone wall plaque can be found with the names of the paratroopers of B Company 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division who gave their lives for the liberation and defense. Private First Class Keyes is buried in the American Cemetery in Margraten, The Netherlands. The town of Barnstable renamed Sea Street Beach to Keyes Memorial Beach.