Neil Neilson enlisted as an infantry in the army.  Neil had basic training in Paris, Texas, then he went to Camp Maxi.

Neil did no fighting in the war.  He landed in Yokohama Bay in Japan a week after Japan surrendered.  He went to the northern part of Japan.  In northern Japan he went to Ashigoga, Hakito.  It is really cold in Hakito, Japan.  Neil's infantry group took over Cason and stayed for six months.  During the first three months, they spent taking Korean families that had been taken prisoners back to Korea.  The prisoners could only take what they packed on the ships.  In the last three months, everything was closed up so they stayed there.  He was twenty years old, and was in the Fifth Calvary.  In Osaka, Japan they took another army base.  When they took over that base they were the commander's "Show Boys".

Neil's most vivid memories are some good friends, he learned to ski, he was a battalion painter, and he was an acting Sargeant, but he never got  badges for it.  Neil has attended no reunions or conventions associated with his military unit since1945.

Neil tried to keep a friendship with Johnny Troy Spear after the war was over.  Neil always joked around with Johnny.  Neil always called Johnny an "Oaky".  An Oaky is an Oaklahomian that has been to California.  Neil and Johnny sent Christmas cards for about 4 to 5 years and then stopped.  One of the last cards Neil got was from California.  In the card Johnny had told Neil "Neil dammit, I'm not an Oaky".

The war affected his life as an American and made him appreciate and understand that if we are going to fight a war, let's fight it on somebody else's land.  Don't blow America apart.

The message that Neil would like to send to young Americans today is, respect the flag.  Young people should think that it is proper.  He says " You can burn all the flags, but you can't destroy the symbol it stands for".