Charles Lawrence McNeil was the son of Charles B. McNeil and Lillie Lee Steele. Charles was a graduate of Central High School, Knoxville, in 1937. He married Irene Cullings Carr at Brown Field in Virginia on 24 December 1942.
Killed in the Battle of Tarawa; Buried at sea from the USS Doyen.
Memorialized at Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, HI
“I wish to be of use.” – Lawrence McNeil, quoted in Central High School Yearbook, 1937
The Knoxville Journal, 1 January 1944
First Lt. Lawrence McNeil of the U.S. Marine Corps, and a former University of Tennessee student, died of wounds received in action in the Southwest Pacific war theatre, his family was informed yesterday. Relatives of the young officer believe he was wounded during the invasion of Tarawa. Glen E. McNeil, OPA district information executive in Nashville, is a brother of Lieutenant McNeil. Official news was received by Lieutenant McNeil’s wife, Mrs. Irene Carr McNeil, who now resides at Water Valley, Miss. She notified his brother. Lieutenant McNeil was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. McNeil, 1145 North Broadway. He volunteered in the Marine Corus Dec. 30, 1941, while in the school of business administration at U-T. He was working part time as cost accountant in Alcoa. He was president of the East Tennessee Hiking Club and interested in outdoor sports and skating. He took boot training at Parris Island, S.C., and later was assigned to a quartermaster corps. After eight months he was appointed an officer candidate, and ranked second in his class at Quantico, Va. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in Nov. 1942, and married Miss Irene Carr of Water Valley, Miss., Christmas, 1942, in the post chapel at Quantico. Lieutenant McNeil and wife visited Knoxville in January, 1943. He was enroute to San Diego, Calif., whence he went to New Zealand. He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant two months ago. Lieutenant McNeil was a member of Fountain City Methodist Church. His becomes the first gold star in the church’s service flag of 108 stars. Other survivors of Lieutenant McNeil are two sisters, Misses Louise and Betty Lee McNeil of Knoxville.
- Rank: First Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 22 January 1920
- Date of death: 23 November 1943
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Knoxville
- Service Branch: Marine Corps
- Division/Assignment: 2nd Marine Division
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Battles: Tarawa
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIV, Bottom Panel
- Contact us to sponsor C. Lawrence McNeil
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