Main Menu

Town ‘n’ Country Post Office to Be Named for Fallen Tampa Hero

U.S. Air Force Major Andreas “Andy” O’Keeffe | Veteran | Kathy Castor

The proposal, which received unanimous support from the U.S. House of Representatives, was introduced by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. Florida Sen. Bill Nelson will sponsor the bill in the U.S. Senate.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives last week unanimously passed a bill to honor Tampa area native U.S. Air Force Major Andreas “Andy” O’Keeffe by renaming the Town ‘n’ Country post office in his honor.

The bill was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, and will be sponsored in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Bill Nelson,  D-FL.

 “Major O’Keeffe represented the best that our Tampa community and America has to offer,” Castor said. “On behalf of a grateful community and country, we honor his memory and service by naming the thriving U.S. Post Office in Town ‘n Country for him.”

Members of Congress can pass legislation to rename certain federal buildings to commemorate and express public gratitude for distinguished individuals.

Major O’Keeffe grew up in the Town ‘n Country area, attended Incarnation Catholic School, Tampa Bay Tech High School and the University of South Florida.  As a student, he served as an intern for Nelson.

Major O’Keeffe answered the call to serve, joining the Air National Guard in 2003 where he served as an aircraft armament specialist before being commissioned as an officer and receiving his flight wings. During the same time, he received his law degree from Georgetown University, but chose to continue his military service – flying dangerous helicopter reconnaissance and rescue missions.  He deployed to Iraq three times, and to Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Texas during Hurricane Harvey. After Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, his unit rescued 2,000 victims of the storms.

Major O’Keeffe gave his life serving our country and rescuing people all over the world.  He died at age 37 on March 15, 2018, while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve, when his helicopter crashed in western Iraq.

“Major O’Keeffe’s family are longtime Hillsborough County residents and I have visited with Mary Ann, his mother, on a number of occasions to learn more about Major O’Keeffe’s life of service. It is vital to honor our local fallen community heroes in memorable ways,” Castor said. “In dedicating a cornerstone of the Town ‘n Country community, we are honoring Major O’Keeffe and his role as a cornerstone in the love and service of our nation.”

Tampa is a patriotic community and home to MacDill Air Force Base, the Sixth Air Mobility Wing, U.S. Special Operations Command, and U.S. Central Command – two of the Armed Forces’ most important military command outposts – and the busiest VA Hospital in America, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital.  Castor serves as vice ranking member of the powerful U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee and earlier in her tenure served on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.

Photo shows U.S. Air Force Major Andreas “Andy” O’Keeffe. Courtesy of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor.

Kathy Castor | U.S. Air Force Major Andreas “Andy” O’Keeffe | Tampabay News

Kathy Castor | U.S. Air Force Major Andreas “Andy” O’Keeffe | Tampabay News