World War II veterans honored at Augusta Elks Lodge

On Dec. 7, 1941, Howard Neleigh was in his basement helping his father put a toy train together to run underneath the Christmas tree. Then, he remembers the radio reporting an attack on Pearl Harbor.

Two years later, the 18-year-old signed up to serve as a pilot in the Marine Corps. Neleigh had known since he was 13 that he would join the military, and the attack on Pearl Harbor solidified that decision.

Neleigh was one of a dozen World War II veterans honored during a luncheon at the Elks Lodge on Friday on the 77th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. The event was first organized three years ago by Fred Gehle, who has spent the past 12 years interviewing veterans and telling their stories for the Veterans History Project with the Augusta-Richmond County Historical Society.

Doug Hastings, who served in Vietnam and leads the Vets to Washington project, has helped Gehle in his mission to record the stories of every living World War II veteran. Over the course of more than 40 trips to significant locations such as the National World War II Memorial in Washington and the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Hastings has helped about 3,000 veterans see monuments built in their honor.

"When we lose the last World War II veteran, we won’t just lose the greatest generation, we lose the character of a nation that we’ll never see again," Hastings said.

There are about 496,000 surviving veterans of a war that more than 16 million Americans joined. Hastings said it's important that they are allowed to tell their stories.

"They are living history," Hastings said. "We’re not having someone else write their story. They’re telling it as they lived it. What could be more valuable in attesting to their generation and the history that they lived in and the history of our country, really."

Attendees included Alan Holt, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge; Julian Proctor, who flew 32 bombing missions and was almost shot down over Germany; and Mel Knowles, who witnessed the flag-raising on Iwo Jima.

Knowles dropped out of high school to join the military in 1943, and left in 1945. He said he didn't know he had witnessed something remarkable until he saw the picture from Iwo Jima in the newspapers two months later.

"When the flag went up, the most important thing came out of the loudspeaker on the beach saying Mount Suribachi has been secured because they had the high ground," Knowles said. "It's just one of those things that happen and we just happened to be there."

After his years of service, Neleigh studied marketing and worked for a steel company for 30 years. But even 70 years later, he remembers the lessons he learned in the military.

"I learned something very young about the military when I was in military school," Neleigh said. "You learn to take care of each other, and it’s an honor to live in this country."

John Miller, exalted ruler for the Augusta Elks Lodge 205, said the lodge will continue hosting events to recognize veterans.

"I think it’s important to recognize veterans because, in the Elks, we believe in good citizenship, and fighting for your country is probably the ultimate in being a good citizen," Miller said. "We’re pleased and proud to keep it up, and we’re pleased and proud to see these remaining surviving World War II veterans."

Latest Augusta Chronicle Video