World War II Honoree

Neal Mills Forney, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Charlotte, North Carolina

Honored By

Carol Wilcox

Relationship

Cousin

IN 1943, JOINED U.S. MERCHANT MARINE AT AGE 15 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS PRIOR TO NAVY ENLISTMENT. BEGAN SERVICE IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA WORKING ON MERCHANT SHIPS OPERATING ALONG SOUTH ATLANTIC COAST OF AMERICA. JOINED THE U.S. NAVY AND RECEIVED HIS TRAINING AT THE U.S. NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND, WITH COMPANY 4048. SERVED AS A QUARTERMASTER 3RD CLASS V6 COXSWAIN ON LANDING CRAFT VEHICLE, PERSONNEL, COMMANDERS SERVICE DIVISION 103, AMPHIBIOUS FORCE. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATERS OF OPERATION ON BOARD THE FOLLOWING SHIPS AND BOATS: SS SEA PARTRIDGE, LST-806, USS BRIAREUS (AR-12), LCVP, SS JACK SINGER, APL-14 NICKNAMED THE RITZ-CARLTON; LCI-1020, USS VANDERBURGH (APB-48) A SELF-PROPELLED BARRACKS SHIP, USS BEAVER (ARG-19) AND USS OKALA (ARST-2). WAS WITH INVASION FORCES AT LEYTE ISLAND, LUZON ISLAND, AND SAMAR ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. ATTACHED TO 10TH ARMY IN BATTLE OF OKINAWA. DURING OCCUPATION OF JAPAN, TOOK WEAPONS FROM SURRENDERING JAPANESE ARMY IN MATSUYAMA, JAPAN AND SHANGHAI, CHINA. AWARDED WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, NAVY OCCUPATION MEDAL (ASIA CLASP), AND CHINA SERVICE MEDAL.