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050113101 |
124k | George Milton Neal, born Springfield, Ohio, 29 August 1930, served as an Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class with Helicopter Squadron One (HU-1), a helicopter rescue unit that embarked from the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney. On July 3, 1951, Neal and pilot Lt. j.g. John Koelsch attempted to rescue Marine Corps Capt. James Wilkins, who crashed near Yondong, North Korea after his Corsair was hit by antiaircraft fire.
Koelsch and Neal found Wilkins, but as they came under increased enemy fire and lowered their rescue sling their helicopter became disabled and crashed.
“For nine days, Neal assisted Koelsch and Wilkins in evading enemy forces before being captured and held as a prisoner of war,” the release said.
Koelsch died during captivity. Wilkins and Neal were released and returned to the United States with more than 320 fellow POWs in 1952. Neal was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions. He passed away 01 December 2016 and was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.
| Dave Wright |
USS George M. Neal (DDG 131)
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050113102 |
457k | 190215-N-DM308-002 Washington, DC, February 15, 2019. An artist rendering of the future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS George M. Neal (DDG 131). (U.S. Navy photo illustration/Released) | Dave Wright |
050113103 |
273k | Ingalls Burner specialist Jason Jackson, right, starts fabrication of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131) in the Ingalls Shipbuilding Steel Fabrication Shop, 02 December 2021. Observing are Bob Poppenhouse, Ingalls DDG 131 ship program manager; Matt Park, general foreman for Ingalls Fabrication Shop; and Lance Carnahan, director of Ingalls Hull department.
HII photo | Dave Wright |
050113104 |
1010k | Ingalls Structural Welder Morris Johnson welds the initials of sponsor Kelley Neal Gray onto the keel plate that will be permanently part of George M. Neal (DDG 131), 15 December 2023.
HII photo | Dave Wright |
050113105 |
661k | Ship sponsor Kelley Neal Gray holds the steel plate that will be welded inside DDG 131. Pictured with Gray are (left to right) U.S. Navy DDG-51 Arleigh Burke -Class Program Manager Capt. Seth Miller and Ingalls DDG-51 Program Manager Ben Barnett.
HII photo | Dave Wright |
