thedrifter
01-15-09, 07:06 AM
Edgeworth couple has one son, two grandsons serving in military
By yoursewickley
Created Jan 15 2009 - 3:05am
Ralph Neely of Edgeworth can't say, "Like father like son" -- but his son can.
Ralph lives in a quiet little community with his wife, Theresa.
Their son, Col. David Neely, 50, a Marine stationed in Iraq, has carried a gun, slept in ditches, piloted planes and sat in the former palace of Saddam Hussein.
And, if having one son serving in the armed forces wasn't enough for the couple, they also have two grandsons serving their country as well.
Two of David's sons also have chosen military life.
Matthew Neely is a combat engineer company commander for MWSS-273 stationed in Al Asad, Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
David Neely Jr., also a Marine and Matthew's older brother, is an AV8B Harrier pilot assigned to Marine Corps Attack Squadron 513 stationed in Yuma, Ariz. He returned from a seven-month combat tour in Iraq in May 2008.
Their dad is an IMEF liaison to Mutli-National Corps-Iraq, stationed at Camp Victory, Baghdad.
Though Ralph never wore a military uniform, David's ambition to become a Marine and his encouragement for his sons to do so as well did not surprise him.
Ralph remembers watching his 6-year-old son play the Marines' theme song on his little organ and marching around with his toy rifle.
"That was our first indication," Theresa said.
David also joined the Reserves while in high school.
Still, Theresa remembers being upset when her then 18-year-old son came to her and announced, "I'm quitting college, getting married and enlisting in the Marines."
David was sent to his room where soon after his dad appeared to talk to him about his plans. He convinced David to finish college and then go to officer's training.
His son listened and has served in the Marines for more than 30 years. His home base is in Louisiana with his wife, Chris.
"When he went to Desert Storm in 1991, it had us on the edge of our chairs. It was hard on us," Theresa said. "We didn't hear from him a lot. He flew planes, and he had some close calls, but he came out unscathed."
When he came back to the states, he was commander of a base in California. He and his entire troop traveled to Kuwait in 1993 for a year and a half, came back to California and then went to Slidell, La.
Last Christmas, he was deployed to Iraq again and serves behind a desk in Baghdad. His parents now hear from him often.
David will return to Slidell in February and then retire. He hopes to use his master's degree in education to find a teaching position.
Ralph and Theresa, who are celebrating their 54th anniversary today (Thursday), have traveled to many military bases over the years. Their Christmas tree, which Theresa was taking down last week, tells of some of the family's travels.
"Our whole lives are in this tree," Theresa said.
Some ornaments feature family photos with the men in their uniforms, along with Ralph's and Theresa's oldest son, Ralph Jr. of New Kensington, David's third son, Michael, and Theresa's and Ralph's eight grandchildren (another is on the way).
Other ornaments were made or sent home by family members, including David Sr., David Jr. and Matthew.
A cloth horse ornament features words, "I love you dad," from Ralph and Theresa's daughter, Kathleen Hinzman, a nurse at Edgeworth Elementary School.
One ornament stands out in the middle of the tree with the words, "All hearts come home for Christmas."
Usually everyone has been able to make it back to Edgeworth, but this year was a little different. Three family members, David Jr., David Sr. and Matthew, were absent.
David Sr. is always proud to say he's missed only three Christmas celebrations with his family in his 30 years traveling the world as a Marine.
This Christmas was one of them, as he continues his third deployment in Iraq. Although he wasn't able to make it back to Edgeworth, he did get to spend Christmas with another loved one.
David Sr. took a helicopter from Baghdad to meet up with Matthew in Al Asad. The two spent Christmas together, and sent pictures of their celebration to their family.
Although Theresa and Ralph miss their son and grandsons, they accept the fact that military is the life they have chosen.
Theresa nodded her head in agreement when her husband said, "If they're happy, we're happy."
Ellie
By yoursewickley
Created Jan 15 2009 - 3:05am
Ralph Neely of Edgeworth can't say, "Like father like son" -- but his son can.
Ralph lives in a quiet little community with his wife, Theresa.
Their son, Col. David Neely, 50, a Marine stationed in Iraq, has carried a gun, slept in ditches, piloted planes and sat in the former palace of Saddam Hussein.
And, if having one son serving in the armed forces wasn't enough for the couple, they also have two grandsons serving their country as well.
Two of David's sons also have chosen military life.
Matthew Neely is a combat engineer company commander for MWSS-273 stationed in Al Asad, Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
David Neely Jr., also a Marine and Matthew's older brother, is an AV8B Harrier pilot assigned to Marine Corps Attack Squadron 513 stationed in Yuma, Ariz. He returned from a seven-month combat tour in Iraq in May 2008.
Their dad is an IMEF liaison to Mutli-National Corps-Iraq, stationed at Camp Victory, Baghdad.
Though Ralph never wore a military uniform, David's ambition to become a Marine and his encouragement for his sons to do so as well did not surprise him.
Ralph remembers watching his 6-year-old son play the Marines' theme song on his little organ and marching around with his toy rifle.
"That was our first indication," Theresa said.
David also joined the Reserves while in high school.
Still, Theresa remembers being upset when her then 18-year-old son came to her and announced, "I'm quitting college, getting married and enlisting in the Marines."
David was sent to his room where soon after his dad appeared to talk to him about his plans. He convinced David to finish college and then go to officer's training.
His son listened and has served in the Marines for more than 30 years. His home base is in Louisiana with his wife, Chris.
"When he went to Desert Storm in 1991, it had us on the edge of our chairs. It was hard on us," Theresa said. "We didn't hear from him a lot. He flew planes, and he had some close calls, but he came out unscathed."
When he came back to the states, he was commander of a base in California. He and his entire troop traveled to Kuwait in 1993 for a year and a half, came back to California and then went to Slidell, La.
Last Christmas, he was deployed to Iraq again and serves behind a desk in Baghdad. His parents now hear from him often.
David will return to Slidell in February and then retire. He hopes to use his master's degree in education to find a teaching position.
Ralph and Theresa, who are celebrating their 54th anniversary today (Thursday), have traveled to many military bases over the years. Their Christmas tree, which Theresa was taking down last week, tells of some of the family's travels.
"Our whole lives are in this tree," Theresa said.
Some ornaments feature family photos with the men in their uniforms, along with Ralph's and Theresa's oldest son, Ralph Jr. of New Kensington, David's third son, Michael, and Theresa's and Ralph's eight grandchildren (another is on the way).
Other ornaments were made or sent home by family members, including David Sr., David Jr. and Matthew.
A cloth horse ornament features words, "I love you dad," from Ralph and Theresa's daughter, Kathleen Hinzman, a nurse at Edgeworth Elementary School.
One ornament stands out in the middle of the tree with the words, "All hearts come home for Christmas."
Usually everyone has been able to make it back to Edgeworth, but this year was a little different. Three family members, David Jr., David Sr. and Matthew, were absent.
David Sr. is always proud to say he's missed only three Christmas celebrations with his family in his 30 years traveling the world as a Marine.
This Christmas was one of them, as he continues his third deployment in Iraq. Although he wasn't able to make it back to Edgeworth, he did get to spend Christmas with another loved one.
David Sr. took a helicopter from Baghdad to meet up with Matthew in Al Asad. The two spent Christmas together, and sent pictures of their celebration to their family.
Although Theresa and Ralph miss their son and grandsons, they accept the fact that military is the life they have chosen.
Theresa nodded her head in agreement when her husband said, "If they're happy, we're happy."
Ellie