Saratoga Standard

Paul O’Keefe was drafted into the United States Army and served as a Private First Class. A resident of Mechanicville, New York, he attended basic training at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. He was stationed in Japan and Busan, Korea, where he served for seven months at the onset of the Korean War.

While in Korea, Mr. O’Keefe served with the 24th Infantry Division (known as the Victory Division) as one of the first U.S. troops called to South Korea to fight with the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) troops. At the start of the war, the 24th Infantry Division and ROK troops were completely outnumbered but battled on and delayed the North Korean forces from advancing. The 24th Division, despite overwhelming odds, continued holding off the North Korean invaders, allowing the United Nations to build up its forces to help defend South Korea. The 24th Division suffered the loss of 3,735 Americans, and 7,395 were wounded during the Korean War.

Following his service, Mr. O’Keefe worked at General Electric Silicones as a lab technician and retired after 33 years. He was married to Marie Cavotta O’Keefe. He has four children, eight grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Mr. O’Keefe is the Chaplain and active member of American Legion Post 91.

He can be seen at many community events representing Korean War veterans, as well as attending numerous veterans’ events throughout the Capital Region, including serving as Chaplain for the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors' monthly “Honor Our Deceased Veterans” program, rendering veterans their final salute at cemeteries.

For 65 years, Mr. O’Keefe has been a firefighter with the Hemstreet Park Fire Department in Mechanicville, New York, where he also served as Chaplain.

He regularly speaks to school groups and young people about the service and sacrifice of our veterans and the importance of community service. As President of the Albany Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Mr. O’Keefe pushed a wheelbarrow from Mechanicville City Hall to Albany City Hall three times, raising thousands of dollars.