Army Staff Sgt. William R. Neil Jr.

Died March 21, 2008 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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38, of Holmdel, N.J.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died March 21 in Sperwan Ghar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

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Special Forces soldier from N.J. killed in Afghanistan

By Ed Johnson

Asbury Park (N.J.) Press

Staff Sgt. William R. Neil Jr., 38, a decorated Green Beret from New Jersey, was killed Saturday during combat near Sperwan Ghar in Afghanistan, the Army Special Forces Command reported Monday.

Neil, of Holmdel, was killed when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while involved in a combat operation, the Army said.

Neil, who was assigned to C Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Special Forces Group, was on his second deployment to Afghanistan, the Army said.

Neil’s parents, Patricia and William Neil Sr., live on Lexington Court. Family members declined to speak to a reporter Monday, but the family later issued a statement.

“Billy was a kind and generous person who loved both his family as well as serving his country,” the statement read. “He will be sorely missed by family, friends and his comrades still fighting for the cause Billy so dearly believed in. He is a true patriot who will never be forgotten.”

Neighbors expressed sadness at news of the death.

“I remember seeing him once or twice and he seemed like a real nice guy,” said Irwin Rappaport. “I know his parents and they’ve always been good neighbors. You realize what your priorities need to be when something like this happens so close to home.”

Michael P. McDonough, another neighbor, said he never got to know Neil, but that didn’t diminish his grief.

“Frankly, I’ve been praying for his family,” McDonough said. “My heart went out to them. I know some of the neighbors had been putting food plates together for his family. It’s a little thing, but we hope it helps.”

Neil was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, six Army Achievement medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, according to the Army.

Neil is survived by his parents and three sisters, Patricia, Barbara and Veronica, the Army said.

Since the fall of 2006, U.S. Special Forces have been working to train Afghan military and police units to prevent a resurgence of Taliban activity in the Sperwan Ghar region, a joint command statement said.

The town of Sperwan Ghar sits near the center of the hotly contested Panjjwayi Province, an area where both the U.S. and Canadian forces have reported successes in getting the civilian populace to move back into the area. Before the Taliban, it had been a hiding place for the Mujahadeen in their fight against the Soviet invaders.

Reports describe the area as rough, mine-laden terrain with fields separated by hedgerows and mud walls as high as 9 feet tall.

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Green Beret, 38, is laid to rest after graveside prayers in Holmdel

By Jim McConville

Asbury Park (N.J.) Press

If a person’s life can be judged by the number of people he touches, then Staff Sgt. William R. Neil Jr. looks to have passed with flying colors.

Approximately 300 people turned out on a chilly and windy Saturday morning to pay their last respects to the former Holmdel resident at his funeral and burial here. Among them were family, friends, police and Army officials, as well as fellow Green Berets.

Neil, 38, was killed March 22 near Sperwan Ghar in Afghanistan when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while he was involved in a combat operation.

Neil’s family and friends, as well as his extended military family, strode slowly into the church with pained and somber faces.

Fourteen of Neil’s Company C comrades stood motionless in the first two church rows.

During two eulogies, mourners stood silent, a stillness occasionally broken by muffled sniffles and sobs as some struggled to hold back tears.

A native of Jersey City, Neil was praised by both his Army Col. William Hager, deputy commander of the 3rd Special Forces Group, and the St. Catherine’s Church pastor, Monsignor Eugene Rebeck, as a “courageous” and “passionate” man who dedicated himself wholeheartedly to fight for the protection of others. Also in attendance was Bishop John M. Smith, of the Trenton Diocese.

In his homily, Rebeck said Neil “had completed his mission here on Earth.”

“He (Neil) was loyal, compassionate and extremely dedicated to what he was doing,” Rebeck said. “He was always so encouraging and helpful to anyone, friend or not.” Neil, Rebeck said, embodied the Christian creed of sacrifice.

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for your friends,” Rebeck said. “Sgt. William Neil definitely followed that idea.”

Hager called Neil’s death “a loss of one of America’s sons. Our nation has truly lost an honored and respected soldier, and our regiment has lost a fearless warrior.”

Hager said Neil had led his military life “with dedication and selflessness.”

“Billy (Neil) willingly risked his life to ensure that others can have a chance to experience freedom,” Hager said.

Neil, a paratrooper who was assigned to C Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Special Forces Group, was on his second deployment to Afghanistan when he was killed.

Neil received a full military funeral that included an honor guard, Irish bagpipe player and firearms salute.

Besides Neil’s Green Beret company, there were representatives from the Newark Police Department and the State Police Holmdel barracks, and about 50 members of the New Jersey chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders, a volunteer group that honors military personnel killed in battle.

Patriot members, each holding an American flag, formed a rectangle around Neil’s casket outside of St. Catherine’s before a military guard carrying his body slowly filed into church.

Since the fall of 2006, U.S. Special Forces have been working to train Afghan military and police units to prevent a resurgence of Taliban activity in the Sperwan Ghar region, Army officials said.

Neil joined the Army in 1998. His first duty assignment was with the 4th Ranger Training Battalion, at Fort Benning, Ga. He passed the Special Forces qualification to become a Green Beret in 2006.

Neil is survived by his three sisters, Patricia, Barbara and Veronica, as well as his parents, Patricia and William Neil Sr., who live on Lexington Court in Holmdel.

“Billy was a kind and generous person who loved both his family as well as serving his country,” said Neil’s parents in a prepared statement. “He will be sorely missed by family, friends and his comrades still fighting for the cause Billy so dearly believed in. He is a true patriot who will never be forgotten.”

Neil’s parents on Friday were given their son’s Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service medal in the Combat Infantry badge, posthumously.

During his military career, Neil also was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, six Army Achievement medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, according to the Army.

At the graveside ceremony at Holmdel Cemetery, family members stood or sat underneath a green tarpaulin tent in front of the grave site as final prayers and blessings were said by Brig. Gen. Hector Pagan, deputy commander general U.S. Army, JFK Special Warfare Center & School, and by Bishop Smith.

Neil’s six Green Beret pallbearers methodically folded the American flag draped over the casket. Pagan completed the military tradition by receiving the flag and handing it to Neil’s mother.

As a final gesture, several family and friends walked by Neil’s bright silver casket, each placing a single red rose on top.

As mourners filed out of the cemetery, several civilians addressed members of the Green Beret funeral guard with the same refrain: “Thank you; thank you for making it safe here.”