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Service Details |
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Personal Details
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Home State
Texas | |
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Year of Birth
1944 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SP 6 Gary McJimsey
to remember
Neely, James Elgin, 1LT.
If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Casualty Info
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Home Town
Abilene |
Last Address
Abilene, Texas
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Casualty Date
Aug 23, 1968 |
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Cause
Hostile, Died |
Reason
Gun, Small Arms Fire |
Location
Kontum (Vietnam) |
Conflict
Vietnam War |
Location of Interment
Hobart Rose Cemetery - Hobart, Oklahoma |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
47W 051 |
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1967-1967, 6, Officer Candidate School (Armor) Fort Knox, KY
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1968-1968, 1204, 2nd Armored Division
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1968-1968, 1204, 4th Infantry Division
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1968-1968, 1204, A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry
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Last Known Activity
Date of Birth February 19, 1944
Oklahoma
Abilene and Corpus Christi, Texas
Caucasian
Protestant – Non Denominational Preference
Single (Never Married)
Abilene High School, Abilene, Texas
Texas A&M University
Father – Jack Young Neely (19520 – 1992) Captain US Army Air Force, WWII
Mother – Edna Ruth Wilson Neely (1924 – 1973)
Sisters – Deanie Ann and Karen Kay of Corpus Christi, Texas
US Army Reserve - Enlisted
Length of Service on Active Duty – One Year according to the National Archives, NARA-AAD.
Time served in the US Army Reserves in unknown.
Vietnam Tour of Duty Started April 3, 1968
Killed by hostile small arms fire while on perimeter defense duty, approximately nine kilometers north of Kontum City, in Kontum Province, US Military Region 2 / II Corps, Republic of South Vietnam, during Operation Mac Arthur / Binh Tay.
Age at Death 24
Certificate of Death (Overseas) DA Form 10-249, dated 23 August 1968, indicates from the Medical Statement that cause of death was due to shrapnel wound to the right side of his neck. This would be in keeping with a hostile mortar and rocket attack on the unit's position as indicated by other sources. The Certificate of Death indicates the Circumstances to be that a 122mm rocket landed adjacent to his vehicle.
According to Vietnam Order of Battle by Stanton, pages 124-125 the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry (Armored Cavalry) Regiment [1st Regiment of Dragoons] was a separate armored cavalry squadron attached to U.S. Army, Pacific (USARPAC) from the 2nd Armored Division. Squadron personnel were entitled to wear the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 2nd Armored Division. During August 1968 the 2nd Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, out of Pleiku, RVN. No indications of a location were the Squadron was operating from.
Find A Grave Memorial #23759298
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Comments/Citation
Remembrances from the internet:
Peter Dixon
Armor Officers' Basic Ft. Knox
I've seen Jim's name at the Memorial.
He and I were close during our training at Ft. Knox.
We were in Vietnam at the same time. I recall vividly seeing Jim's name in the casualty list in the Stars and Stripes, which I rarely looked at but was drawn to that day. Although I only knew Jim for a short time he is still in my memory.
I hope his loved ones are doing well.
Harry Howell
I am also from Abilene, but didn't meet Jim until I came to Texas A&M. He and Ron roomed upstairs from me. There was no more stand-up guy than Jim.
Ron Brown
Friend and College Roommate
Fort Worth, TX
Jim was a Texas Aggie, a hometown buddy from Abilene, a classmate at A&M, and a roommate at Fort Hood. Jim was a big man with a big heart. You instantly felt at ease around Jim. Everyone who ever knew Jim has their own special Jim Neely story because he was full of life and enjoyed living. As the years have gone by, Jim's antics seem larger than life because Jim was a "larger than life" type of person. The world lost a special person and I lost a special friend. Jim Neely will forever be young, forever be strong, and I am forever thankful that I had the privilege of calling Jim Neely my friend.
Bobby Hogan, SGT
Served Under Lt Neely
Cornelius, NC
Great Leader
I haven't thought about Vietnam since I was there from June 1968 to June 1969 until now. I served under Lt Neely for a short time and I was there on that dreadful day in Kontum when he was killed. He was a great leader and highly respected officer. Although it has been a long time I pray that his family and extended family are doing okay.
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