World War II Honoree

Thomas J. Neary, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hawley, Massachusetts

Honored By

Nancy Pohorylo

Relationship

Niece

STAFF SERGEANT, 26TH 'YANKEE' DIVISION, 328TH INFANTRY, 2ND BATTALION, COMPANY E, SQUAD LEADER, FIRST PLATOON. WOUNDED IN FRANCE IN NOVEMBER 1944. KILLED IN ACTION DECEMBER 26, 1944 IN ESCHDORF, LUXEMBOURG DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AWARDED BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND THE SILVER STAR FOR COURAGE UNDER FIRE AND AGGRESSIVENESS IN ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY ON THE DAY HE DIED. AS PART OF TASK FORCE HAMILTON IN ESCHDORF, LUXEMBOURG, HE LED HIS PLATOON OF FIGHTERS INTO THE BLOODIEST PART OF THE FIGHT AND ORGANIZED HIS FIRE POWER TO PROTECT THE RIGHT FLANK OF THE THIRD PLATOON. HE MOVED UP THE STREET AHEAD OF HIS MEN, SYSTEMATICALLY CLEARING OUT THE ENEMY RESISTANCE. USING HAND GRENADES, HE KILLED OR WOUNDED ALL THE ENEMY OCCUPANTS OF TWO HOUSES AND TOOK ALL THE GERMANS IN A THIRD HOUSE PRISONERS. HE DROVE HIS PLATOON TO FIGHTING HEIGHTS AND HELPED HIS COMPANY HOLD THE HOUSES AND THE STREETS THEY TOOK ALL NIGHT UNTIL MORNING WHEN THE ENEMY RETREATED. IN THE LAST HOUSE HE WAS WOUNDED. THE TOWN WAS SURROUNDED AND MEDICAL HELP COULD NOT REACH HIM. HE DIED 26 DECEMBER 1944.