CALEDONIA, MI, June 02, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Herman Keizer Jr., former chaplain colonel and advisor to the Ambassador at Large for the International Religious Freedom of the United States Department of State, was selected by Marquis Who's Who for a posthumous feature in the Washington/Baltimore Edition of The Wall Street Journal, published on May 7, 2025.

Highly involved with moral injury and the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the latter years of his career, Col. Keizer distinguished himself across the span of three decades in the United States Army. Commissioned as a chaplain in 1968, he served on behalf of the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, under the direction of NATO in Stuttgart, Germany, and with the First and Fourth Infantry Divisions during the Vietnam War, in which he was wounded twice. Following his retirement in 1998, he was recalled by the Secretary of the Army to serve as a State Department advisor and chaplain to the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom — in this capacity, he traveled extensively throughout Africa until 2002, whereupon he retired once again.

Well-regarded for his valorous service, Col. Keizer was a six-time recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, one with a "V" device. He also received the Soldier's Medal and a Purple Heart. Following his departure from the army, he became the director of chaplaincy ministries for the Christian Reformed Church in North America, where he and his wife were members. Later, he became deeply involved in the Moral Injury and Soul Repair Project with Dr. Rita Brock at Brite Divinity School, part of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Through the project, they held conferences that sought to address PTSD and moral injury, particularly for soldiers who struggled with reconciling their religious beliefs with their duties as members of the U.S. Armed Forces. In honor of his accomplishments during this time, he was bestowed with additional accolades, including the David E. White Leadership Award, the Soul Repair Award and, after his passing, induction into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor in 2022.

In addition to his numerous achievements, Col. Keizer received a Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Professional Chaplains in 2010, the first military chaplain endorser to be given such an honor. He was also the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from both Calvin College (now Calvin University) and Calvin Theological Seminary. Additionally, Col. Keizer served as the national chaplain for the Military Order of the Purple Heart and as the president of the Army-Navy Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, until 2017.

Col. Keizer was introduced to the idea of military chaplaincy during his years at Calvin College, where he studied philosophy and pre-seminary and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1965. Following this accomplishment, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and became a chaplain assistant at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. He went on to attain a Bachelor of Divinity in theology from the Calvin Theological Seminary in 1968, a Master of Arts in education at Columbia Teachers College in 1978, and a Master of Theology from the New York Theological Seminary in 1979.

Col. Keizer passed away in December 2017. He is survived by his wife, Ardis, and his sons, Bryan and Randall.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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