- Neldon Theo French
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Neldon Theo French Born July 25, 1918
Benton County, TennesseeDied October 9, 1942 (aged 24)
GuadalcanalAllegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Marine Corps Years of service 1940–1942 Rank Corporal Battles/wars World War II
*Guadalcanal campaignAwards Navy Cross (posthumous)
shared in the Presidential Unit CitationNeldon Theo French was a soldier in the United States Marine Corps in World War II.
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 includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
Categories:- United States Marines
- Recipients of the Navy Cross
- American military personnel killed in World War II
- 1918 births
- 1942 deaths
- People from Benton County, Tennessee
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