World War II Honoree

George 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, WITH THE FOLLOWING CITATION: 'FOR DISTINGUISHING HIMSELF BY EXCELLENT SERVICE IN AERIAL COMBAT ENGAGING STRONG ENEMY FORCES IN THE BATTLE OF SAMAR ISLAND OCTOBER 26, 1944. AS TURRET GUNNER ON A TBM-1C AIRPLANE OF COMPOSITE SQUADRON 81 ATTACHED TO AN ESCORT AIRCRAFT CARRIER, THE USS NATOMA BAY, HE CARRIED OUT HIS DUTIES SKILLFULLY AND ACQUITTED HIMSELF CREDITABLY IN THE FACE OF THE MOST INTENSE AND ACCURATE ANTI- AIRCRAFT FIRE. FOR HIS CONDUCT THROUGHOUT HE IS COMMENDED AND AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE COMMENDATION RIBBON.' THE AIR FORCE MEDAL AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY CARRIED THE FOLLOWING CITATION: 'FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN 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, NEESE BRAVELY MANNED HIS GUNS AND REPELLED THREE 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 FOURTH ATTACK BY A BURSTING HOSTILE CANNON SHELL, WHICH STRUCK HIS TURRET, NEESE, BY HIS AGGRESSIVE FIGHTING SPIRIT AND VALIANT DEVOTION TO DUTY, HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE SAFETY OF HIS PLANE AND THE FULFILLMENT OF A HAZARDOUS MISSION. HIS OUTSTANDING COURAGE AND EXCEPTIONAL SKILL WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITION OF THE U. S. NAVY SERVICE. HE GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY.'