World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Neldon Theo French
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Camden, Tennessee
Honored By
John Peterson
HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON OCTOBER 9, 1942 IN THE GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN. HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS FOR HIS HEROISM IN FIGHTING TO HIS DEATH IN A DEFENSIVE POST ON THE MATANIKAU RIVER, AND SHARED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AWARDED HIS DIVISION FOR ITS PERFORMANCE IN THE INITIAL LANDINGS ON GUADALCANAL. THE DESTROYER ESCORT USS FRENCH DE-367 WAS NAMED IN HIS HONOR.