World War II Honoree

George 'Mokey' Hunter Neese

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Cassville, West Virginia

Honored By

Brothers & Sisters

TURRET GUNNER ON A TORPEDO BOMBER. KILLED AT SEA IN ACTION IN THE INVASION OF THE ISLAND OF LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS JANUARY 6, 1945. PURPLE HEART MEDAL AND NAVY COMMENDATION. AERIAL COMBAT IN THE BATTLE OF SAMAR ISLAND ON OCTOBER 26, 1944. HE CARRIED OUT HIS DUTIES AS TURRET GUNNER ON A TBM-1C AIRPLANE OF COMPOSITE SQUADRON 81, ATTACHED TO THE USS NATOMA BAY. AWARDED THE AIR FORCE MEDAL POSTHUMOUSLY. AERIAL FLIGHT AS TURRET GUNNER OF A TORPEDO BOMBER IN COMPOSITE SQUADRON 81, ATTACHED TO THE USS NATOMA BAY OPERATION AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE AIR FORCES OFF THE WEST COAST OF LUZON ON JANUARY 6, 1945. WHEN A HOSTILE FIGHTER ATTACKED HIS PLANE DAMAGING THE CONTROLS AND RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE PILOT TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION, HE BRAVELY MANNED HIS GUNS AND REPELLED 3 ATTACKS BY ENEMY AIRCRAFT, FORCING THE HOSTILE FIGHTER BEYOND DESTRUCTIVE RANGE OF THE PLANE AND CAUSING HIM TO EXPAND HIS AMMUNITION IN LONG RANGE FIRING. KILLED INSTANTLY ON THE 4TH ATTACK BY A BURSTING HOSTILE CANNON SHELL, WHICH STRUCK HIS TURRET.