Dan Lee Neely
Private First Class, U.S. Army

Dan Lee Neely was born on 27 April 1948, the son of J.D. and Lavern Inez Moman Neely. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on 9 May 1967 in Birmingham, AL.

On 1 March 1968, Private First Class Dan Lee Neely was serving with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, PFC Neely was a radio-telephone operator of Company B, an airmobile infantry unit on a search and destroy mission northwest of Hue. One of Company B's platoons made contact with an estimated-company of North Vietnamese Army regulars and suffered several casualties. A reinforcement platoon moved up to assist and became pinned down behind a small bush line. Several medics attempted to crawl forward to give aid to the wounded that were lying in exposed positions, and they were hit by the enemy fire as they advanced. PFC Neely began to move from position to position, exposing himself to the fusillade in order to collect hand grenades. Discarding his equipment and carrying only grenades and medical bandages, he then crawled forward toward the casualties. He moved to within a few meters of a Viet Cong bunker and threw grenades at it in an attempt to silence its weapons. The attempt failed and he was driven back by an enemy barrage. While the reinforcement platoon concentrated covering fire on the enemy position, PFC Neely again moved forward, this time succeeding in reaching one of the wounded medics. After applying first aid to the man, he dragged him back to the relative safety of the friendly force's perimeter. PFC Neely secured another supply of grenades and tried to return to the remaining wounded. While crawling forward and throwing hand grenades at the enemy, he was mortally wounded. PFC Neely's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Dan Lee Neely (ASN: RA-12937819), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Private First Class Neely distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 March 1968 as radio-telephone operator of an airmobile infantry company on a search and destroy mission northwest of Hue. One of the company's platoons made contact with an estimated company of North Vietnamese Army regulars and immediately suffered several casualties. A reinforcement platoon moved up to assist and became pinned down behind a small bush line. Several medics attempted to crawl forward to give aid to the wounded who were lying in exposed positions, and they were hit by the enemy fire as they advanced. Private Neely began to move from position to position, exposing himself to the fusillade to collect hand grenades. Discarding his equipment and carrying only grenades and medical bandages, he then crawled forward toward the casualties. He maneuvered to within a few meters of a Viet Cong bunker and threw grenades at it in an attempt to silence its weapons. The attempt failed and he was driven back by a fierce enemy barrage. While the reinforcement platoon concentrated covering fire on the enemy position, Private Neely again moved forward, this time succeeding in reaching one of the wounded medics. After applying first aid to the man, he dragged him back to the relative safety of the friendly force's perimeter. Private Neely secured a further supply of grenades and attempted to return to the remaining wounded. While crawling forward in the face of withering fire, throwing hand grenades at the enemy, he was mortally wounded. Private Neely's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3338 (July 15, 1968)

Honors

The name Dan L Neely is located on Panel 42E Line 22 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Private First Class Dan Lee Neely is buried at Morris Cemetery in Morris, Jefferson County, AL, in Clifton Hill Addition, SW Section, Part 1, Lot 54.