World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
John E. Neel
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Brookville, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
Relationship
Relationship Not Determined
ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN APRIL, 1943, AT ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA. TRAINED INITIALLY IN THE AMERICAN THEATER FOR ENTRY-LEVEL 'BASIC TRAINING ' AND THEN FOR ADVANCED MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) QUALIFICATION. FOLLOWING TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 44TH RECONNAISSANCE TROOP (MECHANIZED), 44TH INFANTRY DIVISION. HIS DIVISION STAGED AT CAMP MYLES STANDISH AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ON AUGUST 24, 1944, AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE BOSTON PORT OF EMBARKATION ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1944, AND ARRIVED AT CHERBOURG, FRANCE ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS WITH HIS TROOP AS AN EXPERT GUNNER. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS DIVISION WENT INTO THE FRONT LINES ON OCTOBER 23, 1944, WAS SUBJECTED TO A STRONG GERMAN COUNTERATTACK ON OCTOBER 25-26, 1944, AND DEFENDED ITS AREA. THE DIVISION FORCED A PASSAGE THROUGH THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS ON NOVEMBER 13, 1944 AND TOOK AVRICOURT, FRANCE ON NOVEMBER 17, 1944, AFTER HEAVY COMBAT, AND SARREBOURG ON NOVEMBER 21, 1944. HIS DIVISION HAD TO WITHDRAW AFTER A GERMAN COUNTERATTACK BUT RESUMED THE OFFENSIVE ON DECEMBER 5, 1944, AGAINST THE MAGINOT LINE AND TOOK RATZWILLER. THE GERMAN 'NORDWIND' COUNTEROFFENSIVE ON JANUARY 1, 1945, DROVE THE DIVISION BACKWARD AND IT DISPLACED TO DEFENSIVE POSITIONS IN THE SARREGUEMINES VICINITY, THROUGH MOST OF MARCH, 1945. THE DIVISION CROSSED THE RHINE RIVER AT WORMS, GERMANY ON MARCH 26, 1945, AND CROSSED THE MAIN RIVER IN EARLY APRIL. HIS DIVISION ENTERED AUSTRIA ON APRIL 30, 1945. HOTILITIES IN THIS AREA ENDED ON MAY 5, 1945, WHEN THE GERMAN 19TH ARMY SURRENDERED AT INNSBRUCK. THE ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE (V-E DAY) WAS ANNOUNCED ON MAY 8, 1945. HIS DIVISION ARRIVED AT THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JULY 20, 1945. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (3 CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.