Rodney "Rod" C. Keckler

Rodney “Rod” C. Keckler, age 75, of Carlisle, PA, husband of Patsy J. (Swartz) Keckler, passed away at his home on Saturday, November 25, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Carlisle on September 13, 1948, to Frances R. (Souders) Goshorn and the late Richard C. Keckler.

Rod was a United States Army Vietnam Veteran having served two tours in Vietnam through 5 Tet Offensives. From February 21, 1968, to February 20, 1969 Rod was in Dalat with C Company 87th ENG and from October 20,1969 to August 28, 1970 served all over but mainly in Pleiku with C Company 815th ENG. He drove a gun truck that his crew named “Taxpayer’s Hired Gun” that was repeatedly painted over because the brass thought it was inappropriate. Born a rebel, he would repaint the name back on the truck. Rod was awarded multiple medals and commendations for his service to his country including the National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Sharpshooter Marksman Badge for M-14, Marksman Badge for M-16, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and three O/S Bars. He was a member of the Mt. Holly Spgs. American Legion and Edward Jay Rykoskey Post #1 Carlisle Vietnam Veterans, Inc. He was co-founder of Southcentral Outdoors for Youth programs with his wife and Game Commission Officer, Tony Calaman for many years teaching today's youth about the pleasures of the outdoors.

Rod attended Boiling Springs High School. He worked for 30 years as a Block & Bracer and Mechanic retiring in 1999 from the Navy Depot in Mechanicsburg, PA. Rod loved “anything racing” that included all forms of auto racing, boats, ATV’s, trucks, motorcycles (especially flat tracking Harley’s) and NASCAR. He participated in demolition derbies at the former Carlisle Fair and was most passionate about dirt track racing at Silver Springs Speedway where he worked as a flagman, security guard and pit crew member for race teams including Steve Weaver’s K-9, John Ebersole’s 3x, Jake Raudabaugh’s 59, Paul Miller’s 58, and others. Rod also enjoyed hunting with bow and rifle (Whitetail Deer Only) along with fishing in the Susquehanna River. In his later years, Rod loved looking at wildlife cameras to see what critters were coming in to feed. He loved street rods and custom-made hot rods and motorcycles, trucks, Harleys, and a replica gun truck named “Satan’s L’il Angel” which he would display anywhere to spread the history of Vietnam gun truckers and their trucks. Rod was also quite a dancer before two heart attacks took the wind out of his sails. He was an avid poet and story writer that became his therapy over the years.

Rod was a volunteer firefighter with the Mt. Holly Spgs. Citizens Fire Company #1. He also volunteered his time as a Captain of the Mt. Holly Spgs. Special Police and helped the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, Michaux State Forest Mountain Fire Team, PA Game Commission, and other local police departments.

A graveside service with Full Military Honors will be held at 1:30 PM on Monday, December 4, 2023, at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, 60 Indiantown Gap Road, Annville, PA 17003. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Eastern Museum of Racing, 100 Baltimore Road, York Springs, PA 17372. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.HoffmanFH.com.