First Lieutenant Neis was the co-pilot of a B-26C Invader bomber with the 95th Bomber Squadron, 17th Bomber Wing. On 14 November 1952, while on a night interdiction mission, radar contact with the aircraft was lost. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 28 February 1954. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, First Lieutenant Neis was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.