Neldon Theo French

Neldon Theo French was a Marine in the United States Marine Corps in World War II.

Neldon Theo French
Born(1918-07-25)July 25, 1918
Benton County, Tennessee
DiedOctober 9, 1942(1942-10-09) (aged 24)
Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1940–1942
RankCorporal
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsNavy Cross (posthumous)
shared in the Presidential Unit Citation

He was born July 25, 1918 in Benton County, Tennessee. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on September 9, 1940, and was killed in action on October 9, 1942 in the Guadalcanal Campaign. Corporal French was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism in fighting to his death in a defensive post on the Matanikau River, and shared in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded his division for its performance in the initial landings on Guadalcanal.

Namesake

The destroyer escort USS French (DE-367) was named in his honor. She was sponsored by Mrs. Alma M. French, mother of Corporal French, launched on June 17, 1944, and commissioned October 9, 1944.

See also

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
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