BIOGRAPHY for CHARLES "CHUCK" NEIGHBOR, WWII VETERAN
Proudly Served Our Country and Still Serving our Community
Charles H. “Chuck” Neighbor was born in Iola, Kansas on December 13th, 1924.
While attending Kansas State Teachers College (Emporia State University) in Emporia, Kansas; as he washed dishes to help pay for tuition, he recalls listening to President Roosevelt (FDR) in a radio broadcast stating that it was now necessary to draft 18 year olds. Just after turning 18, he was drafted into the Armed Services in 1943 soon after completing his freshman year. Following induction at Fort Leavenworth was basic training at Fort Fannin, Texas as newly formed Company B, 78th Battalion. Other training locations included Fort Meade in Baltimore, Maryland; Camp Shanks, New York; and various locations in England. Training included use of the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) and limited training to use a flame thrower.
Mr. Neighbor was later assigned to the 29th Division, 116th Regiment, E Company, 2nd Battalion; a division which would later be known as one of the first to storm the beaches of Normandy, France on D-Day, one of the most significant dates in WWII.
On June 6th, 1944, D-Day, the beginning of the Allied invasion of Europe, Charles Neighbor boarded Higgins Boat #2 along with other comrades from the 116th Regiment. They were one of the first groups to land on Omaha Beach in Normandy. Due to bad weather and rough seas, they landed nearly 2 miles from the intended target and found themselves mixed with members of the 1st Division known as “The Big Red One”. Mr. Neighbor recalls this a favorable mistake since the 1st had battle experience from the North African campaign. The 1st and 29th worked together to control the beach head in one day but the cost to do so was high; many sacrificed their lives that day including the Company Commander and Section Sergeant. It was not until 2-3 days later that they would reunite with the remainder of E-Company. Over the next month they worked their way inland to the battle of Saint Lo (The Battle of the Hedgerows), a major strategic crossroads held by Nazi Germany since 1940. It was during this battle on July 13th that Chuck Neighbor received his first injury, shrapnel from an enemy mortar round hitting him in both the back and left side of his head. Soon after, he was medivacked to England where he recovered until October. He then rejoined the 29th as they pushed further inward through France closer to Germany. In January of 1945, he sustained a second injury from shrapnel hitting his left leg during the battle of the Rorer River Crossing. Following recovery in England, he would later rejoin E-Company where they would meet Russian Forces at the Elbe River during the surrender of Germany in early May of 1945. After the surrender, the 29th was assigned post war occupation of Bremerhaven, a port city in northern Germany.
After his discharge in October of 1945, Mr. Neighbor returned home to Iola, Kansas where he was welcomed at the train station by his mother Josephine; aunt, Catherine; and sister, Catherine May. Charles’ brother Howard was still serving with the US Navy in the Pacific. Charles returned to school at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas where he would receive a Mechanical Engineering Degree.
He married Clarice in 1950. A few years later, they moved to Roanoke, VA after accepting a job with the Hercules Army Ammunition Plant in Radford, VA. Chuck worked for almost 30 years before retiring in the late 80’s. They raised a family including sons Chad, Keith, Chris, and daughter Jonelle.
Mr. Neighbor worked with Bob Slaughter, another D-Day Veteran, to help establish the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA. Chuck resides in Roanoke where he attends monthly meetings of the Post 64-29th Division, Profiles Of Honor, and events at the National D-Day Memorial.
Created DHS 5-2-19