Family’s chance discovery unlocks window into dad’s World War II days

Canton Historical Society President Paul Mitcheroney (2nd from right) accepts a donation from the Neal family. Also pictured are (l-r) Richard Neal, Geoffrey Neal, Jennifer McNulty, and Pamela Neal Katz. (Mary Ann Price photo)

Brothers Geoffrey and Richard Neal grew up on Spring Lane, where they played in the attic as children with a samurai sword and a Japanese flag that their father, the late Brigadier General Willis A. Neal, USMCR, brought back from his years of service in World War II. One of their father’s personal items that they did not find was his military uniform. “We never saw that,” Geoffrey Neal said.

Their older sister, Pamela Neal Katz, and the fourth sibling, the late Rebecca Neal, used to go down to the basement on snow days and rainy days, where they opened a chest and pulled out kimonos. “We’d play with all his stuff,” Katz recalled.

Their father had also come home with grass skirts, which the girls used as costumes on Halloween. The elder Neal did not talk to his children about the war, and apart from the sword, flag and clothing, his children knew nothing about his uniform or any documents he may have saved.

That changed a few years ago during a family trip to New Hampshire. Geoffrey had a new iPad and decided to Google his father’s name. He came across an article that had been published in the Canton Citizen, by local historian George Comeau, that described how Geoffrey’s father had donated his Marine uniform to the Canton Historical Society, along with a Japanese sniper’s camouflage vest that was woven with coconut fibers. The three siblings were astounded.

“We were shocked and very thankful that the Citizen had this article,” Geoffrey said. He also learned that the sniper covering is one of only two known copies. The other is in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Last weekend, the Neal family returned to Canton for a family reunion, which began at the Historical Society. President Paul Mitcheroney and members Wally and Marie Gibbs opened the building on Saturday morning to allow Willis A. Neal’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren the opportunity to see three tables holding the uniforms, photographs, articles, Japanese medal, and documents that he donated years ago. The Japanese flag, which the two brothers had not seen since their childhood, was draped across one of the tables. Mitcheroney said that the flag was from a construction battalion.

Geoffrey said that while his father had to be tough in his role as a serviceman, he had a wonderful personality and character. “He was a gentle, intelligent, kind father and person,” he said. “He was liked by everyone who knew him.”

Willis Neal attended the University of Virginia and its law school, graduating in 1940. He also attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a lieutenant junior grade in the Marine Corps. He shipped out in 1941 and spent the next four years of his life serving overseas. Geoffrey said that along with Army, Navy and Air Force officers, his father was appointed to the planning campaign that retook several Pacific islands, including Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal.

After the war, General Neal and his wife, Shirley, raised their family in Canton, where their children walked to the Revere School on Chapman Street and later the Elliot School, which now houses the Canton Police Department, on Washington Street. He worked as an attorney for a banking firm in Boston and was the clerk of court for the Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham for 16 years. He passed away in 1969. Shortly thereafter, Shirley Neal sold her home and she and her family moved away.

“It’s very nice,” Richard Neal said of the collection of memorabilia displayed at the Historical Society. “It’s nice that his grandchildren and great-grandchildren get to see it.”

“I’m blown away,” Katz said. “When you’re young, you don’t think about what your parents did or what war was. They never talked about it to us.”

Geoffrey said that seeing the donated items gave him heart palpitations. “It’s amazing to find a living history of our father,” he said. “It means a lot to everybody here.”

Share This Post

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=33719