Neldon Theo French

Neldon Theo French
Born	July 25, 1918(1918-07-25) Benton County, Tennessee
Died	October 9, 1942(1942-10-09) (aged 24) Guadalcanal
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1940–1942
Rank	Corporal
Battles/wars	World War II *Guadalcanal campaign
Awards	Navy Cross (posthumous) shared in the Presidential Unit Citation

Neldon 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

	Biography portal
	World War II portal
	United States Marine Corps portal

References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• Neldon Theo French

Persondata
Name	French, Neldon Theo
Alternative names
Short description	United States Marine
Date of birth	July 25, 1918
Place of birth	Benton County, Tennessee
Date of death	October 9, 1942
Place of death	Guadalcanal