World War II Honoree

Emmit Luther Neal

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

New Castle, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps February 2, 1942 at Indianapolis, Indiana and completed his basic training with the Twelfth Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for his combat training. Served as a Rifleman with the First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Golf Company, Second Battalion and First Marine Regiment. His division participated in the amphibious assault on the Island of Peleliu (Battle Dates: September 15-November 27, 1944) Code Name: Operation Stalemate II. He died of wounds that he had encountered on the battlefield against the Imperial Japanese forces, and buried at sea Monday, September 18, 1944. His name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.