World War II Honoree

James 'Hal' Neal, Jr., M.D.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

COMPLETED MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA IN 1943, AND THEN REPORTED FOR NAVAL RESERVE SERVICE AS A LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE. SAILED OVERSEAS TO HAWAII AND SERVED AS A NAVY PHYSICIAN IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE FOR IWO JIMA WHILE ATTACHED TO MARINE CORPS FORCES. SERVED AT IWO JIMA IN SUPPORT OF THE 31ST NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION (SEABEES), V AMPHIBIOUS CORPS, 5TH MARINE 'THE SPEARHEAD' DIVISION. HE WAS ONE OF TWO BATTALION DOCTORS WHO LANDED ASHORE ON FEBRUARY 20, 1945, THE DAY FOLLOWING THE INITIAL INVASION OF IWO JIMA (D-DAY +1). HE WAS ASHORE ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 23, 1945, AND WITNESSED THE RAISING OF THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG ON 550-FOOT MOUNT SURIBACHI, THE MAIN JAPANESE BASTION AT THE EXTREME SOUTHERN TIP OF THE ISLAND. HE RECALLS THAT A GREAT CHEER AROSE FROM THE MEN, AND SHIPS OFF-SHORE WERE SOUNDING THEIR BELLS AND WHISTLES. HE DID NOT PAY ANY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE RAISING OF THE SECOND LARGER FLAG BUT TOOK COMFORT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE AMERICAN FLAG WAS ATOP SURIBACHI. THE FIGHTING ON IWO JIMA RAGED FOR SOME 5 BLOODY WEEKS AND FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE BATTLE, HIS OWN FOXHOLE DOUBLED AS A FIRST AID STATION, UNTIL ONE COULD BE BUILT. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION RIBBON FOR EXTREMELY MERITORIOUS SERVICE BY SUPPORT FORCES OF THE V AMPHIBIOUS CORPS AT IWO JIMA FROM FEBRUARY 19-28, 1945, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER THE WAR, WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE, AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.