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- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 153.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 15 Sep 2011.
Cocke County soldier injured in Afghanistan
PFC Jack D. Keener II
Author: Rick Hooper
A Cocke County soldier has been injured in the war in Afghanistan.
PFC Jack D. Keener II, 22, of Cosby, was reportedly injured in recent days when he was struck by small arms fire and shrapnel from an explosive device while on a mission in a small Afghan village, according to family members.
Although details are sketchy, Keener reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and shrapnel wounds to other parts of his body,including arms and face. None of the injuries, however, are considered life-threatening. After having surgery, he was expected to be flown to Germany today and then later returned to the United States.
He was able to call his wife and father Wednesday afternoon to notify them of the incident and his condition.
A 2008 graduate of Cosby High School, Keener enlisted in the U.S. Army in April 2010. He underwent basic training at Fort Benning, Ga.,and was stationed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, before being deployed to Afghanistan in mid-May of this year.
Keener is married to the former Destinie Highsmith, of Cosby, and they have one son, four-month-old Mason.
Other local family members include his father Marty Keener and grandmother Miriam Keener, both of Cosby, and aunts Nancy Hansel and Kay Keener-O'Neil, both of Newport.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 20 Sep 2011.
PFC Keener moved to Texas hospital
PFC Jack Duane Keener II, the Cosby soldier injured in Afghanistan last week, has been moved to a military hospital in the United States.
According to family members, Keener is now in San Antonio, TX "undergoing evaluations" regarding his condition and future treatment.
"We have talked with him several times," said the family spokesman, "and he seems to be in good spirits. "Details about exactly what happened are still sketchy and we hope to learn more about the incident soon."
Keener reportedly suffered both a gunshot wound to the abdomen and shrapnel wounds to other parts of his body in an incident in a remote Afghan village. None of the injuries are considered life-threatening.
A 2008 graduate of Cosby High School, PFC Keener arrived in Afghanistan last May. He is married to the former Destinie Highsmith, and they have one son, four-month-old Mason.
Family members expect to fly to Texas "as soon as possible" to be with Keener.
"Everyone has been so supportive and helpful during this time," said the spokesman. "We are truly grateful for all the prayers, visits, cards, and telephone calls we have received. Jack is following in the military footsteps of his paternal grandfather for whom he is named, and we are very, very proud of him."
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 23 Sep 2011.
Keener continues recovery at Texas hospital
SAN ANTONIO, TX-PFC Jack Duane Keener II, who was severely wounded in Afghanistan on Sept. 14, continues to receive treatment at a Texas hospital.
According to a family spokesman, Keener was flown from an Army hospital in Germany earlier this week and is now a patient at Brooke Army Medical Center.
"We've been told he's facing several weeks of treatment," said the spokesman. "He's recovering well from a gunshot wound to his abdomen."
In addition to the gunshot wound, Keener also received numerous injuries from shrapnel, including a severe blow to his right shoulder, which will require future surgery and skin grafting.
"He's able to walk and is in good spirits," said the spokesman. "We're so grateful for that."
Keener's wife Destinie, their four-month-old son Mason, and his aunt Kay Keener O'Neil flew to Texas on Tuesday.
Keener, 22, was deployed to Afghanstan last May, shortly after Mason's birth. At the time of his injury, his unit was in a remote Afghan village, when a roadside bomb exploded and they came under small arms fire.
He graduated from Cosby High School in 2008 and entered service about 18 months ago.
Cards may be sent to Keener at Brooke Army Medical Center; Attention: 2 West Room 229 Bed 2; 3851 Rodger Brooke Drive; Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 17 Nov 2011.
Keener to receive welcome home
Author: Nelson Morais
NEWPORT-Local citizens are being encouraged to line the streets, and show their appreciation to Jack Keener, 22, of Cosby, a wounded soldier returning home from Afghanistan Friday afternoon, Nov. 18.
A police escort, with additional vehicles from two fire departments, as well as Cocke County Mayor Vaughn Moore and State Representative Jeremy Faison, will accompany Keener, a U.S. Army Pfc, on Friday afternoon, from Exit 432, at the parking lot of the Brandywine Creek Restaurant.
Vehicles from the Cocke County Sheriff's Department, the Newport Police Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the county and city fire departments, Newport Mayor Connie Ball, AMVETS representatives Willie Green and Dale Brown, and possibly a vehicle from the Newport Rescue Squad, will accompany Keener after his arrival to Cocke County from Knoxville's airport.
For more details, please see the latest edition of the Newport Plain Talk.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 18 Nov 2011.
Soldier Jack Kenner welcomed home as a hero
(c)2011 NPT PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS
Jack Keener, 22, of Cosby, came home Friday, Nov. 18, to a hero's welcome, after serving in Afghanistan for six months, where he was wounded. He tightly hugged his grandmother, Miriam Keener, left, who lives in the Bogard area of Cosby.
Author: Nelson Morais
NEWPORT-Jack Keener, 22, a Cosby resident who was wounded in Afghanistan where he was deployed for six months, got a hero's welcome the evening of Friday, Nov. 18.
In the end, there were maybe a couple dozen vehicles, including a lot of police cruisers, U.S. Army vehicles, Newport Rescue Squad vehicles, and even three fire trucks, all waiting anxiously in a parking lot for Keener to arrive from the airport in Knoxville, where he had flown in from Texas.
When he stepped out of a vehicle, a group nearby of about 20 men applauded Keener, the wounded soldier coming home to Cosby.
"I didn't think there'd be that many people," said Keener. "It's pretty crazy that this many people supported me."
For more details, see this weekend's edition of The Newport Plain Talk.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 22 Nov 2011.
Keener honored with proclamation
(c)2011 NPT PHOTO BY RICK HOOPER
PFC Jack Keener, left, receives a proclamation from Cocke County Mayor Vaughn Moore, right, during Monday's CLB meeting. Keener was injured during a battle in Afghanistan last September. See story on Page 3.
Author: Rick Hooper
NEWPORT-PFC Jack Duane Keener, a Cosby native who was injured in Afghanistan last September, was honored with a proclamation from Cocke County Mayor Vaughn Moore during Monday's monthly meeting of the Cocke County Legislative Body.
"We're really proud of this young man and it's an honor to present this proclamation," said Moore.
Keener, a 2008 graduate of Cosby High School, entered the U.S. Army last May and was injured Sept. 14 when a roadside bomb exploded and a battle erupted. Keener was taken to Germany and later transported to Fort Sam Houston in Texas, where he has been before returning to Cocke County last Friday.
Keener's wife, Destinie and son, Mason, were joined by other family members and friends to witness Monday's ceremony.
For more details, please see the latest edition of the Newport Plain Talk.
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Abt 1989 - (~ 35 years)
