PFC Kenneth Lee Steel was born on March 18, 1947 in Lincoln, NE. He was the second child born to parents Albert H. Steel and Betty L. McKittrick. The family moved to Fremont, NE in 1948.

Ken spent his formative years in Fremont and grew up in the Christian Missionary Alliance Church (now the Fremont Alliance Church).

He attended Fremont High School where he was a member of the wrestling team before graduating in 1965.

Ken was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 and received basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and advanced training at Ft. Polk, LA.

He was sent overseas on October 4, 1966, and was assigned to the airmobile unit of the First Calvary Division. Having earned the rank Private First Class, Ken was engaged in front line duty throughout his service in South Vietnam.

PFC Steel was killed during a combat operation in the Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam, on Tuesday, February 28, 1967.

During the night of February 27, 1967, Ken’s dog, Duke, was at the Steel home in Fremont when he began to howl loudly for several minutes. Initially, the family did not know what caused him to do that. However, after receiving the news of Ken’s death, the family traced the timing of his death to the moment that Duke started howling. At that point, the family realized that Duke knew Ken had been killed before they did.

Pictured from Left to Right: Karon, Ken, Doug, Larry Steel.

While in high school, Ken accepted Christ as his Savior. Although his life on earth ended after only 19 years, 11 months, and 10 days, his spirit and soul continue to live at home in Heaven. Larry Steel. Brother of PFC Kenneth Lee Steel.

Pictured Larry Steel and Phyllis Steel. Flowers by DWF Wholesale Florist. Honor and Remember Nebraska Chapter is pleased to present this flag sponsored by Eagle Distributing to the family of PFC PFC Kenneth L. Steel.