COL Albert R. Neville, Jr USAF (Retired)
Albert Roland “Al” Neville, Jr. was born 1 Dec 1921 in Washington, DC, as the younger of two children born to Third Army Corps of Engineers Master Sergeant Albert R. Neville and Mollie Teufel. They lived in the District of Columbia area until 1933, when the family moved to Schofield Barracks, HI. While living there, Al became the youngest Eagle Scout, achieving the rank after just two short years. With Wheeler Field nearby, Al was fascinated by the P-12s, A-8s and P-26s practicing touch and go landings on the grass field. Learning to fly airplanes, by way of West Point, became Al’s ambition.
After moving back to Virginia and graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, DC, Al enlisted in the Army, but providence had him returning to Hawaii for West Point Prep School. Rising early on 6 Dec 1941, he observed the first Japanese bomb to hit Wheeler Field. The aircraft flew by, barely missing the barracks. Prep school was suspended while the class was dispersed to build bridges and defend Oahu. Six weeks later, the class resumed, and he received his appointment to West Point.
His childhood dream was realized in July of 1942 at the swearing-in ceremony at Trophy Point. Over the years this ceremony and his wearing the cadet gray often were mentioned as his most memorable experiences. The cadets who attended pilot training graduated with wings due to the wartime acceleration of training.
After additional pilot training, Al was assigned to Germany in tactical reconnaissance. There he met the love of his life, Alice Crist, the daughter of an Army Engineer colonel. After a two-year courtship, they went on to become happily married for 59 years and have five children and ten grandchildren.
In 1948, Al checked out in RF-80s while at Langley AFB. Al was at Ohio State University, studying Experimental Psychology, when the Korean War started. Eager for action, Al volunteered, taking F-86 training at Nellis AFB. The conflict ended before graduation, however, so he went into pilot training research, both at Tyndall and Lackland Air Force Bases.
In 1959, Al graduated from Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB. The subsequent assignment took him to the Pentagon for five years in personnel planning. By 1964, Al was selected for the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks. It was enjoyable for him to reacquaint with many classmates and other West Pointers there. With an additional master of arts degree from George Washington University in International Affairs, Al was retained on the faculty as one of three Air Force representatives.
With the war in Southeast Asia escalating, Al left the Army War College for the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing (F-4) at Eglin AFB. As deputy for operations, his mission was to train F-4 squadrons for deployment. After 20 months at Eglin, Al was assigned to Ubon Royal Thai Air Base as vice commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing and saw combat as a fighter pilot. This tour lasted six months before he was transferred to Kunsan Air Base, Korea, as wing commander of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing.
After returning from Korea, Al was assigned to Headquarters, Logistics Command at Wright Patterson AFB. This duty preceded his retirement assignment as commander of Aerospace Guidance and Metrology at Newark, OH, a repair center for guided missile and inertial guidance systems. Facilities at Newark Air Force Station also set the standards for measuring true and magnetic North.
After comfortably retiring to Florida, Al worked in commercial real estate sales. He went on to receive a Certified Commercial Investment Member designation. During the same time, he was an arbitrator with the National Association of Security Dealers.
In 1991, with a committee of a few classmates, Al started compiling a West Point Class of 1945 chronicle. An enormous and detailed project, it took years to complete. A great sense of satisfaction, however, came from his reconnecting with classmates.
Over the years, Al remained very involved in his community with the Sunshine City Kiwanis Club, where he served as president and secretary of the Kiwanis Foundation. He also won Florida State and International Awards for the Kiwanis newsletter. In 2008, Al was named a life member emeritus by the St. Petersburg Military Officers Association.
—Loving wife
(http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/14664/)
Albert Roland “Al” Neville, Jr. was born 1 Dec 1921 in Washington, DC, as the younger of two children born to Third Army Corps of Engineers Master Sergeant Albert R. Neville and Mollie Teufel. They lived in the District of Columbia area until 1933, when the family moved to Schofield Barracks, HI. While living there, Al became the youngest Eagle Scout, achieving the rank after just two short years. With Wheeler Field nearby, Al was fascinated by the P-12s, A-8s and P-26s practicing touch and go landings on the grass field. Learning to fly airplanes, by way of West Point, became Al’s ambition.
After moving back to Virginia and graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, DC, Al enlisted in the Army, but providence had him returning to Hawaii for West Point Prep School. Rising early on 6 Dec 1941, he observed the first Japanese bomb to hit Wheeler Field. The aircraft flew by, barely missing the barracks. Prep school was suspended while the class was dispersed to build bridges and defend Oahu. Six weeks later, the class resumed, and he received his appointment to West Point.
His childhood dream was realized in July of 1942 at the swearing-in ceremony at Trophy Point. Over the years this ceremony and his wearing the cadet gray often were mentioned as his most memorable experiences. The cadets who attended pilot training graduated with wings due to the wartime acceleration of training.
After additional pilot training, Al was assigned to Germany in tactical reconnaissance. There he met the love of his life, Alice Crist, the daughter of an Army Engineer colonel. After a two-year courtship, they went on to become happily married for 59 years and have five children and ten grandchildren.
In 1948, Al checked out in RF-80s while at Langley AFB. Al was at Ohio State University, studying Experimental Psychology, when the Korean War started. Eager for action, Al volunteered, taking F-86 training at Nellis AFB. The conflict ended before graduation, however, so he went into pilot training research, both at Tyndall and Lackland Air Force Bases.
In 1959, Al graduated from Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB. The subsequent assignment took him to the Pentagon for five years in personnel planning. By 1964, Al was selected for the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks. It was enjoyable for him to reacquaint with many classmates and other West Pointers there. With an additional master of arts degree from George Washington University in International Affairs, Al was retained on the faculty as one of three Air Force representatives.
With the war in Southeast Asia escalating, Al left the Army War College for the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing (F-4) at Eglin AFB. As deputy for operations, his mission was to train F-4 squadrons for deployment. After 20 months at Eglin, Al was assigned to Ubon Royal Thai Air Base as vice commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing and saw combat as a fighter pilot. This tour lasted six months before he was transferred to Kunsan Air Base, Korea, as wing commander of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing.
After returning from Korea, Al was assigned to Headquarters, Logistics Command at Wright Patterson AFB. This duty preceded his retirement assignment as commander of Aerospace Guidance and Metrology at Newark, OH, a repair center for guided missile and inertial guidance systems. Facilities at Newark Air Force Station also set the standards for measuring true and magnetic North.
After comfortably retiring to Florida, Al worked in commercial real estate sales. He went on to receive a Certified Commercial Investment Member designation. During the same time, he was an arbitrator with the National Association of Security Dealers.
In 1991, with a committee of a few classmates, Al started compiling a West Point Class of 1945 chronicle. An enormous and detailed project, it took years to complete. A great sense of satisfaction, however, came from his reconnecting with classmates.
Over the years, Al remained very involved in his community with the Sunshine City Kiwanis Club, where he served as president and secretary of the Kiwanis Foundation. He also won Florida State and International Awards for the Kiwanis newsletter. In 2008, Al was named a life member emeritus by the St. Petersburg Military Officers Association.
—Loving wife
(http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/14664/)
COL Albert R. Neville, Jr USAF (Retired)
Albert Roland “Al” Neville, Jr. was born 1 Dec 1921 in Washington, DC, as the younger of two children born to Third Army Corps of Engineers Master Sergeant Albert R. Neville and Mollie Teufel. They lived in the District of Columbia area until 1933, when the family moved to Schofield Barracks, HI. While living there, Al became the youngest Eagle Scout, achieving the rank after just two short years. With Wheeler Field nearby, Al was fascinated by the P-12s, A-8s and P-26s practicing touch and go landings on the grass field. Learning to fly airplanes, by way of West Point, became Al’s ambition.
After moving back to Virginia and graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, DC, Al enlisted in the Army, but providence had him returning to Hawaii for West Point Prep School. Rising early on 6 Dec 1941, he observed the first Japanese bomb to hit Wheeler Field. The aircraft flew by, barely missing the barracks. Prep school was suspended while the class was dispersed to build bridges and defend Oahu. Six weeks later, the class resumed, and he received his appointment to West Point.
His childhood dream was realized in July of 1942 at the swearing-in ceremony at Trophy Point. Over the years this ceremony and his wearing the cadet gray often were mentioned as his most memorable experiences. The cadets who attended pilot training graduated with wings due to the wartime acceleration of training.
After additional pilot training, Al was assigned to Germany in tactical reconnaissance. There he met the love of his life, Alice Crist, the daughter of an Army Engineer colonel. After a two-year courtship, they went on to become happily married for 59 years and have five children and ten grandchildren.
In 1948, Al checked out in RF-80s while at Langley AFB. Al was at Ohio State University, studying Experimental Psychology, when the Korean War started. Eager for action, Al volunteered, taking F-86 training at Nellis AFB. The conflict ended before graduation, however, so he went into pilot training research, both at Tyndall and Lackland Air Force Bases.
In 1959, Al graduated from Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB. The subsequent assignment took him to the Pentagon for five years in personnel planning. By 1964, Al was selected for the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks. It was enjoyable for him to reacquaint with many classmates and other West Pointers there. With an additional master of arts degree from George Washington University in International Affairs, Al was retained on the faculty as one of three Air Force representatives.
With the war in Southeast Asia escalating, Al left the Army War College for the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing (F-4) at Eglin AFB. As deputy for operations, his mission was to train F-4 squadrons for deployment. After 20 months at Eglin, Al was assigned to Ubon Royal Thai Air Base as vice commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing and saw combat as a fighter pilot. This tour lasted six months before he was transferred to Kunsan Air Base, Korea, as wing commander of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing.
After returning from Korea, Al was assigned to Headquarters, Logistics Command at Wright Patterson AFB. This duty preceded his retirement assignment as commander of Aerospace Guidance and Metrology at Newark, OH, a repair center for guided missile and inertial guidance systems. Facilities at Newark Air Force Station also set the standards for measuring true and magnetic North.
After comfortably retiring to Florida, Al worked in commercial real estate sales. He went on to receive a Certified Commercial Investment Member designation. During the same time, he was an arbitrator with the National Association of Security Dealers.
In 1991, with a committee of a few classmates, Al started compiling a West Point Class of 1945 chronicle. An enormous and detailed project, it took years to complete. A great sense of satisfaction, however, came from his reconnecting with classmates.
Over the years, Al remained very involved in his community with the Sunshine City Kiwanis Club, where he served as president and secretary of the Kiwanis Foundation. He also won Florida State and International Awards for the Kiwanis newsletter. In 2008, Al was named a life member emeritus by the St. Petersburg Military Officers Association.
—Loving wife
(http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/14664/)
Albert Roland “Al” Neville, Jr. was born 1 Dec 1921 in Washington, DC, as the younger of two children born to Third Army Corps of Engineers Master Sergeant Albert R. Neville and Mollie Teufel. They lived in the District of Columbia area until 1933, when the family moved to Schofield Barracks, HI. While living there, Al became the youngest Eagle Scout, achieving the rank after just two short years. With Wheeler Field nearby, Al was fascinated by the P-12s, A-8s and P-26s practicing touch and go landings on the grass field. Learning to fly airplanes, by way of West Point, became Al’s ambition.
After moving back to Virginia and graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, DC, Al enlisted in the Army, but providence had him returning to Hawaii for West Point Prep School. Rising early on 6 Dec 1941, he observed the first Japanese bomb to hit Wheeler Field. The aircraft flew by, barely missing the barracks. Prep school was suspended while the class was dispersed to build bridges and defend Oahu. Six weeks later, the class resumed, and he received his appointment to West Point.
His childhood dream was realized in July of 1942 at the swearing-in ceremony at Trophy Point. Over the years this ceremony and his wearing the cadet gray often were mentioned as his most memorable experiences. The cadets who attended pilot training graduated with wings due to the wartime acceleration of training.
After additional pilot training, Al was assigned to Germany in tactical reconnaissance. There he met the love of his life, Alice Crist, the daughter of an Army Engineer colonel. After a two-year courtship, they went on to become happily married for 59 years and have five children and ten grandchildren.
In 1948, Al checked out in RF-80s while at Langley AFB. Al was at Ohio State University, studying Experimental Psychology, when the Korean War started. Eager for action, Al volunteered, taking F-86 training at Nellis AFB. The conflict ended before graduation, however, so he went into pilot training research, both at Tyndall and Lackland Air Force Bases.
In 1959, Al graduated from Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB. The subsequent assignment took him to the Pentagon for five years in personnel planning. By 1964, Al was selected for the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks. It was enjoyable for him to reacquaint with many classmates and other West Pointers there. With an additional master of arts degree from George Washington University in International Affairs, Al was retained on the faculty as one of three Air Force representatives.
With the war in Southeast Asia escalating, Al left the Army War College for the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing (F-4) at Eglin AFB. As deputy for operations, his mission was to train F-4 squadrons for deployment. After 20 months at Eglin, Al was assigned to Ubon Royal Thai Air Base as vice commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing and saw combat as a fighter pilot. This tour lasted six months before he was transferred to Kunsan Air Base, Korea, as wing commander of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing.
After returning from Korea, Al was assigned to Headquarters, Logistics Command at Wright Patterson AFB. This duty preceded his retirement assignment as commander of Aerospace Guidance and Metrology at Newark, OH, a repair center for guided missile and inertial guidance systems. Facilities at Newark Air Force Station also set the standards for measuring true and magnetic North.
After comfortably retiring to Florida, Al worked in commercial real estate sales. He went on to receive a Certified Commercial Investment Member designation. During the same time, he was an arbitrator with the National Association of Security Dealers.
In 1991, with a committee of a few classmates, Al started compiling a West Point Class of 1945 chronicle. An enormous and detailed project, it took years to complete. A great sense of satisfaction, however, came from his reconnecting with classmates.
Over the years, Al remained very involved in his community with the Sunshine City Kiwanis Club, where he served as president and secretary of the Kiwanis Foundation. He also won Florida State and International Awards for the Kiwanis newsletter. In 2008, Al was named a life member emeritus by the St. Petersburg Military Officers Association.
—Loving wife
(http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/14664/)
