Keith Brandt was born on December 27, 1940, in Bellington, Washington. He entered Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Training on November 12, 1965, and was appointed a Warrant Officer and awarded his Army Aviator Wings on October 11, 1966. WO Brandt immediately deployed to Southeast Asia, where he served as a UH-1 Huey pilot with the 121st Aviation Company in South Vietnam from November 1966 to November 1967, and then with the 235th Aviation Company in South Vietnam from November 1967 to June 1968. His next assignment was as an AH-1G Cobra instructor pilot with the U.S. Army Aviation School at Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia, from July 1968 to May 1970, during which time he was commissioned a 1LT of Armor on October 9, 1969. After completing the Armor School and additional training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Fort Rucker, Alabama, he deployed to Southeast Asia in November 1970, serving with Company D, 101st Aviation Battalion, 101st Aviation Group of the 101st Airborne Division in South Vietnam from November 1970 until he was killed in action in Laos on March 18, 1971. Capt Brandt's remains were returned to the U.S. on January 13, 1990, and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

His Bronze Star Medal Citation reads:

For distinguishing himself by outstanding meritorious service in connection with ground operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 3 November 1970 to 18 March 1971. Through his untiring efforts and professional ability, he consistently obtained outstanding results. He was quick to grasp the implications of new problems with which he was faced as a result of the ever changing situations inherent in a counterinsurgency operation and to find ways an means to solve those problems. The energetic application of his extensive knowledge has materially contributed to the efforts of the United States mission to the Republic of Vietnam to assist that country in ridding itself of the Communist threat to its freedom. His initiative, zeal, sound judgement and devotion to duty have been in the highest tradition of the United States Army and reflect great credit on himself, his unit and the military service.