HUNTSVILLE – Private First Class Billy Neal, a veteran of the Korean War, earned the Presidential Unit Citation and the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars.

Neal enlisted in the U. S. Army on Nov. 18, 1949. He reported to Fort Jackson, S.C. for Basic Training and then completed Advanced Training in Aberdeen, Md. 

He served with the 31st Artillery Battalion and was assigned to Japan. Ultimately, Neal deployed to Korea, where the war was raging.

Neal’s most vivid memories of Korea are the extremes in weather, from bitterly cold to extremely hot. “According to Billy, there was very little comfort during his tour as far as the weather was concerned. The temperature spread was 165 degrees. There was no fun, given the war and the extreme changes in climate,” spokesperson and former Marine Tom McKinney said.

Neal participated in the amphibious invasion of Inchon, which turned the war in favor of the United Nations and led to the recapture of Seoul. He fought with the 31st Artillery Battalion until his release from active duty in 1952 as a Private First Class.

He attended Decatur Trade School (now part of Calhoun Community College). He and his wife Margie were married for 42 years until Margie’s death in 1994.

Margie and Billy have four children — daughters Beverly Lowe, Paula Neal and Lisa Walker and son Donald Neal. All of the Neal children live in North Alabama, and Billy has several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After military service, Neal worked for NASA at Marshall Space Center for 33 years. He now works as information specialist at the Davidson Center. “Billy can be seen in a white lab coat with the NASA logo answering technical questions from the many visitors,” McKinney said.

Billy enjoys riding his Harley Davidson or original Honda Gold Wing and is a rider with the Patriot Guard. He also enjoys restoring vehicles, including a 1970 Ford pick-up.

In 2017, Billy was named “Veteran of the Year” by the North Alabama Veterans Fraternal Organizations Coalition. He is a member of American Legion, Post 237 in Huntsville, Legacy 4 Korean War Veterans and Forever Young Senior Veterans.

He attends Life Church in Huntsville.